Nataraja

Nataraja (literally - The King of Dancers) is the dancing posture of Lord Shiva, the God of Destruction of Hinduism.

• The upper right hand contains the Dhamarukha or the drum, which signififies sound or creation.
• The upper left hand contains agni or the fire, which signifies total destruction.

• The second right hand shows abhaya (or fear not)
• The second left points towards the raised left foot which signifies prayer for salvation. The hand also looks like the trunk of Ganesha, the obstacle remover.

• The dwarf on which Nataraja dances signifies ignorance in man.

• The entire form of Nataraja can be seen to mirror the Hindu sacred syllable Aum, thus imputing that Lord Shiva's dance of destruction is contained within the existential principle of the Divine Sound.

• [1] An excellent review of Nataraja symbolism.

• [1]

• Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy