GHORA means dreaded. One gets dreaded because of Rajas and Tamas
qualities. AGHORA means a raw state of being without the feelings of RAJAS
and TAMAS qualities. This is raw energy. Pure knowledge is Pure energy.
Hence Lord Shiva in the form of DAKSHINA MURTHY gives this pure
knowledge to the seeker. But in Lord Shiva, along with this pure knowledge
face exists the dreaded TAMAS and RAJAS forms. Lord Shiva displays the
relevant nature of his being depending on the Karma cycle of a person. At the
times of annihilation, Lord Shiva assumed the raw powers of nature and
removes the living beings. Our prayers to that energy which assumes the form
as needed.
Those who worshipped the AGHORA form of Shiva were called as
AGHORIS. Their main belief is that there is no such thing called
inauspicious in this world because all that exists if Shiva himself. They
generally live in graveyards and are naked. They use those things which the
world has branded as inauspicious. They perform harsh penance. Those
who worship AGHORA form of Shiva are saved from natural catastrophe,
water hardships and life threats.
This AGHORA aspect is correlated with the following
To MA Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra
To Prana Maya Kosha amongst the five Koshas
To JALA principle among five principles Pancha Bhuta
To SVADHISHTHANA CHAKRA among six Chakras
To MADHMAYA Swara among the seven Swaras
To U in OMKARA.
Our prayers to such AGHORA form of Shiva
Mahadevam Mahatmanam
Maha Paataka Nashanam
Maha Paapa Haram Vande
Makaaraaya Namo Namaha
Shiva Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance. Tamil Nadu, Chola Dynasty, India
Tn d ava() or Tn d ava nr tya( ) is a divine dance performed by the Hindu god
Shiva. Shiva's Tandava is described as a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of
creation, preservation and dissolution. While the Rudra Tandava depicts his violent nature, first
as the creator and later as the destroyer of the universe, even of death itself; the Ananda
Tandava depicts him as enjoying. In Shaiva Siddhanta tradition, Shiva as Nataraja (lit. "Lord of
dance") is considered the supreme lord of dance.[1]
The Tandava takes its name from Tandu ( tan d u), the attendant of Shiva, who instructed
Bharata (author of the Natya Shastra) in the use of Angaharas and Karanas, modes of the
Tandava at Shiva's order. Some scholars consider that Tandu himself must have been the author
of an earlier work on the dramatic arts, which was incorporated into the Natya Shastra.[2] Indeed,
the classical arts of dance, music and song may derive from the mudras and rituals of Shaiva
tradition.
Some of the 108 Karanas of Nataraja at Kadavul Hindu Temple, on Kauai, Hawaii. It is one of
the few complete collections in existence, commissioned by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami
in the 1980s. Each sculpture is about 12 inches tall. Chidambaram Temple is also known to have
a complete set.
The 32 Angaharas and 108 Karanas are discussed by Bharata in the 4th chapter of the Natya
Shastra, Tandava Lakshanam.[3] Karana is the combination of hand gestures with feet to form a
7
dance posture. Angahara is composed of seven or more Karanas.[4] 108 karanas included in
Tandava could be employed in the course of dance, fight, and personal combats and in other
special movements like strolling.
The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principal manifestations of eternal energy:[5]
'Tirobhava' () - illusion
Thus Tandava symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily
rhythm of birth and death.
Rudra Tandava: A dancer depicting Shiva kicking Yama, the god of Death.
Tandava, as performed in the sacred dance-drama of southern India, has vigorous, brisk
movements. Performed with joy, the dance is called Ananda Tandava. Performed in a violent
mood, the dance is called Rudra Tandava. In the Hindu texts, at least seven types of Tandava are
found: Ananda Tandava, Tripura Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, Samhara Tandava, Kali (Kalika)
Tandava, Uma Tandava and Gauri Tandava.[4] However, some people believe that there are 16
types of Tandava.
"How many various dances of Shiva are known to His worshipers I cannot say. No doubt the root
idea behind all of these dances is more or less one and the same, the manifestation of primal
rhythmic energy. Whatever the origins of Shiva's dance, it became in time the clearest image of
the activity of God which any art or religion can boast of." - Ananda Coomaraswamy[6]
The dance performed by Shiva's wife Parvati in response to Shiva's Tandava is known as Lasya,
in which the movements are gentle, graceful and sometimes erotic. Some scholars consider
Lasya to be the feminine version of Tandava. Lasya has 2 kinds, Jarita Lasya and Yauvaka Lasya.
The Hindu scriptures narrate various occasions when Shiva or other gods have performed the
Tandava. When Sati (first wife of Shiva, who was reborn as Parvati) jumped into the Agni Kunda
(sacrificial fire) in Daksha's Yajna and gave up her life, Shiva is said to have performed the
Rudra Tandava to express his grief and anger. The Shivapradosha stotra says when Shiva
performs the Sandhya Tandava, the other gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Sarasvati, Lakshmi and
Indra play musical instruments and sing Shiva's praises.[4] Ganesha, the son of Shiva, is depicted
as Ashtabhuja tandavsa nritya murtis (Eight armed form of Ganesha dancing the Tandava) in
temple sculptures.[7] The Bhagavata Purana talks of Krishna dancing his Tandava on the head of
the serpent Kaliya.[8] According to Jain traditions, Indra is said to have performed the Tandava in
honour of Rishabha (Jain tirthankar) on the latter's birth.[9]