Lord of the Dance
Portoro Marble (Italy)
40"
This vigorous and beautiful pose is dedicated to Shiva, The Lord of the Dance, who is also the fountain and source of Yoga. One of the great symbols of the constant cycle of change, Shiva Nataraja is portrayed in Hindu mythology as the aspect of Shiva whose ecstatic dance of destruction lays the foundation for the creation and sustenance of the universe. Depicted in southern Indian art dating back to the 10th through 12th centuries, Shiva Nataraja dances at the center of the wheel of samsara, a cosmic ring of fire that symbolizes the eternal cycle of birth, life, and death.
In Yoga, Natarajasana (Lord of the Dance Pose)is an homage to the idea that you can be steady and joyful at your center while change happens around you. When you make the shape of the pose, you embody both the wheel of samsara and the hub.