31: Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance

Ancient Art Podcast (audio)

Episode 31 takes a look at the iconic figure of the Hindu deity Shiva Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance. Examining two images of the dancing Shiva at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame, we explore the timeless concept of the cosmic cycle of creation and destruction. We see a philosophy of balance and harmony expressed through the union of diverging opposites, like creation and destruction, male and female, life and death -- and we learn how the imagery, symbolism, and iconography of the popular Nataraja figure embody this philosophy and spiritual belief. Plus we discover Shiva's function as the destroyer of the cosmos, the supreme yogi and cosmic dancer, and father of the beloved elephant-headed deity Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles. See past episodes, image galleries, credits, transcripts, and additional resources at http://ancientartpodcast.org. Connect at http://twitter.com/lucaslivingston and http://facebook.ancientartpodcast.org/.