Rhythm & Tempo

Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.
― Maya Angelou

As 無 is the invisible dance, beyond ―玄之又玄，衆妙之門，mysterious and mystical, the door to all the wonders。― are there a tempo & a rhythm for and within it or does it only happen at present, like a spontaneous and always renewed, yet unique creation?

Shiva standing on a baby.

That is नटराज Nataraja – the lord of the dance – भगवान शिव Lord Shiva – and the “baby” is actually a demon. भगवान शिव is stomping out evil and preparing the universe for creation.  

शिव Shiva’s dance at तिलई Tillai, the traditional name of चिदंबरम Chidambaram

The essential significance of Shiva’s dance at Tillai (from थिल्लई Thillai trees Exocoeria agallocha of which the milky latex of Excoecaria agallocha, also known as Thillai, milky mangrove, blind-your-eye mangrove and river poison tree, is poisonous), the traditional name of चिदंबरम Chidambaram, can be explained as:

• First, it is seen as the image of his rhythmic play which is the source of all movement within the universe. This is represented by the circular or elliptical frame surrounding the Lord.
• Secondly, the purpose of his dance is to release the souls of all men from the snare of illusion.
• Lastly, the place of the dance, चिदंबरम Chidambaram, which is portrayed as the centre of the universe, is actually within the heart.

To understand the concept of नटराज Nataraja, the idea of dance itself, in Hinduism, must be understood. Like yoga, dance is used to induce trance, ecstasy and the experience of the divine. In India, consequently, dance has flourished side by side with the austerities of meditation (as fasting, absolute introversion etc.). शिव Shiva, therefore, the arch-yogi of the Gods, is necessarily also the Lord of the dance. Dancing is seen as an art in which the artist and the art s/he creates are one the same, thought to evoke the oneness of God and creation.