Siva - Nataraja

 

Shiva as Lord of Dance (Nataraja)

Period: Chola period (880–1279)

Date: ca. 11th century

Culture: Indian (Tamil Nadu)

Medium: Copper alloy

Dimensions: H. 26 7/8 in. (68.3 cm); Diam. 22 1/4 in. (56.5 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Gift of R. H. Ellsworth Ltd., in honor of Susan Dillon, 1987

Accession Number: 1987.80.1

Description

As a symbol, Shiva Nataraja is a brilliant invention. It combines in a single image Shiva's roles as creator, preserver, and destroyer of the universe and conveys the Indian conception of the never-ending cycle of time. Although it appeared in sculpture as early as the fifth century, its present, world-famous form evolved under the rule of the Cholas. Shiva's dance is set within a flaming halo. The god holds in his upper right hand the damaru (hand drum that made the first sounds of creation). His upper left hand holds agni (the fire that will destroy the universe). With his lower right hand, he makes abhayamudra (the gesture that allays fear). The dwarflike figure being trampled by his right foot represents apasmara purusha (illusion, which leads mankind astray). Shiva's front left hand, pointing to his raised left foot, signifies refuge for the troubled soul. The energy of his dance makes his hair fly to the sides. The symbols imply that, through belief in Shiva, his devotees can achieve salvation.

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/1987.80.1/

The centuries do not forget...

While serving as Surgeon GH Ratnapura in 1982, a well dressed gentleman, came to see me with a long standing ulcer on one of his legs. It looked like an allergic origin. On questioning he told me that his father also had a similar ulcer. I prescribed the necessary treatment. After he had gone the old attendant standing by me said 'Oka saneepa wenni nay Sir. Oka paramparawey saapayak'.- 'You cannot cure that Sir. It is a curse of a generation'. I was intrigued and asked why he said that. The attendant said that a male ancestor of the patient took part in the capture of the last King of Kandy. The ancestor a high court official, had done the unpardonable sin at that time in1815, of kicking the King's body with his foot. This was a curse laid on generations to come. I was reminded of a passage from a Russian author. 'The centuries do not forget the shame of a nation'.

While serving in Kandy as Surgeon in the 1980s, an elderly gentleman related to me a legend, that when the news of the betrayal of the Kandyan Kingdom to the British reached Kandy, the angered public reacted by cutting many 'Ehela' trees in and around Kandy.

Capture of Kandy, Sri Lanka.

While serving in the Health Department in Kandy, I collected a few legends about Kandy.
The Portuguese, the Dutch and the British suffered quite a few defeats at the hands of the soldiers of the Kandyan Kingdom.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kandyan_Wars
After surrender of Kandy by a few nobles, the British took to using psychological warfare to cow the native population.
Legends had it that Kandy could never be controlled till three things were accomplished.

1. The Mahaweli Ganga had to have a bridge built across.
Up to that time the crossing was done at ‘Gannoruwa’ – (Ganing’ –bring, ‘Oruwa’ – boat, became ‘Gannoruwa’) by boat.
A satin-wood bridge was built by the British across the Mahaweli Ganga at Peradeniya.

2. A tunnel had to be dug through a mountain.
This was done by blasting through granite at Anniewaththe. The tunnel is still in use.

3. Possesion of the Sacred Tooth of Lord Buddha.
The British knowing the political importance of the Relic captured it and the effect of the capture was recorded by a British physician John Davy who was here at the time' He says : "When the relic was taken the effect of its capture was astonishing ... for they who possess the relic have a right to govern four kingdoms ; this, for 2,000 years, is the first time the relic was ever taken from us".26 In Kandy in the year 1828 there were the great rains immediately after the sacred Tooth Relic was ..
https://books.google.lk/books…

Date Original 1894
Photographer/Artist: Jackson, William Henry, 1843-1942