Pristine Hinduism Indeed Saw God as The Divine Chorus Director

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 15 July 2024 The Gestures of the Dance Represent Shiva’s Five Activities (Panchakritya): Creation (Symbolized by The Drum), Protection (By The “Fear-Not” Pose of The Hand), Destruction (By The Fire), Embodiment (By The Foot Planted On the Ground), And Release (By The Foot Held Aloft). ------ Why not use the triumvirate of "Myth, theology, and politics " to describe religion or, alternately, "Poetry, Music and Dance", which sits well with imagining God as the Divine Chorus Director? There seems to be a subtle sarcasm in Mr Naseer's aforementioned comment. A mind, rigidly schooled in only Islamic thought processes, cannot understand the alternative ideas of god and divinity in other faiths, cultures and communities. Here lies the importance of embracing otherness and sharing the wisdom in order to acquire a universal vision. Eastern faiths, esp. Hinduism, indeed saw god as the Divine Chorus Director: Iish Pratipannam Jagatasti Nritya-Sangeet Abhirangam (Shaivite belief of god, Shiva, as the Supreme Master of Dance and Music). Nataraja, the Hindu god Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer, is a popular concept in Hinduism and its mythology. Sandhya Tandava ---- In the Nataraja sculpture, Shiva is shown as the source of all movement within the cosmos and as the god whose doomsday dance, represented by the arch of flames, accompanies the dissolution of the universe at the end of an eon. His dance of creation is said to have been performed in Chidambaram (an important Shaiva centre in South India), a place that is identified with both the centre of the universe and the human heart. The gestures of the dance represent Shiva’s five activities (Panchakritya): creation (symbolized by the drum), protection (by the “fear-not” pose of the hand), destruction (by the fire), embodiment (by the foot planted on the ground), and release (by the foot held aloft). Other dances of Shiva seen in sculpture and painting are the wild Tandava, which he performs on cremation grounds in the company of his consort Devi, and the graceful lasya, an evening dance performed on Mount Kailas before the assembly of gods, some of whom accompany him on various instruments. Twelfth-century Sanskrit, Maithili and Odia poet Jayadeva described Krishna as a divine philanderer and flutist who would woo Radha and Gopis with his music, poetry, sweet talk (Charu Vaak) and nimble-footed dance movements in Geet Govindam. Eastern gods have been depicted as playful deities, whereas the monotheistic god of all three Semitic faiths is projected as a permanently sullen and sombre being who dislikes dance, music and poetry. We need empathy of faith to accept the diverse traditions in different religions. Mind you, I'm not a Hindu who's defining and defending Hinduism's religious symbolism. I've no faith in all these symbols, projections and interpretations in all-man made faiths. Nor do I believe in any damn god. But looking at all faiths from a purely academic perspective sans a scintilla of prejudice can help dissolve many doubts and differences. Mr Naseer will not disagree with me. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/pristine-hinduism-god-divine-chorus-director/d/132706 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism