Haiku- Shiva’s Dance – April 10, 2020

 

Shiva’s Dance (Tandava)

even headless crowns
must move to Lord Shiva’s tune
– Tāṇḍavam

© gsk ’20

In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic we might remember that even the coronavirus is part of the world and follows its principles.

“Tāṇḍavam (also known as Tāṇḍava natyam) is a divine dance performed by the Hindu god Lord Shiva. The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy:

Srishti – creation, evolution
Sthiti – preservation, support
Samhara – destruction, evolution
Tirodhana – illusion
Anugraha – release, emancipation, grace

Thus Tandava symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death. ”