Indian dancing

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF INDIAN DANCING

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Or att the arts, dancing is perhaps the one most attuned to the Infinite, having its essence in Nature itself. Every aspect of creation —man, bird, and beast, flower, fruit, and tree, the wind and the waves — displays a dance pattern known in the language of Indian dance as the Dainic Nrtya, ot Daily Dance. There is harmony and rhythm in the murmur of the waves, the whispering of the leaves and the grass, the warbling of birds, the humming of insects, and the plaintive notes of the wind.

No wonder, then, that amongst the Hindus, descendants of the Nature-worshipping Aryans who invaded India almost four thousand years ago, dancing is regarded as the most ancient and the ptoudest of arts. Legend attributes to it even the creation of the world. For it is said that Brahma the Creator, moving forward in three majestic strides, brought into being the earth with his downward stride, space with an upward movement, and the sky with his third stride.

The philosophy of Brahma embraces vast tracts of time and cycles of ages, the human soul moving through countless lives, slowly, calmly working out its salvation, which is Nirvana, evetlasting peace, Oneness with the Essence of all Being. Thus the Cosmic Wheel turns through numberless evolutions, moving in a perpetual cycle over which presides the Trinity of Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva, whose cosmic power brings to life, maintains, and destroys all things in Nature.

THE DANCE OF SHIVA

Shiva is looked upon as the first dancer; hence he is called Natarga, i.e. King or Lord of the Dance, nafa meaning dance, and raja lord

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