Skip to main content

UPSC_PRELIMS POWER PLAY-ART & CULTURE(Nataraj)




Lord Natraja

  • Nataraja (Lord of the Dance), the Hindu god Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer, is represented in metal or stone in many Shaivite temples, particularly in South India.
  • It is an important piece of Chola sculpture.

Some of the features of the Nataraja sculpture are:

  • The upper right-hand holds the drum, which signifies the sound of creation. All creations spring from the great sound of the damru.
  • The upper left-hand holds the eternal fire, which represents the destruction. Destruction is the precursor and inevitable counterpart of creation.
  • The lower right hand is raised in the gesture of Abhay mudra signifying benediction and reassuring the devotee to not be afraid.
  • The lower left-hand points towards the upraised foot and indicates the path of salvation.
  • Shiva is dancing on the figure of a small dwarf. The dwarf symbolises ignorance and the ego of an individual.
  • The matted and flowing locks of Shiva represent the flow of river Ganges.
  • In ornamentation, one ear of Shiva has a male earring while the other has female. This represents the fusion of male and female and is often referred to as Ardhanarishwar.
  • A snake is twisted around the arm of Shiva. The snake symbolises the kundalini power, which resides in the human spine in the dormant stage. If aroused, one can attain true consciousness.
  • The Nataraja is surrounded by a nimbus of glowing lights which symbolises the vast unending cycles of time.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Major Literary Works & Authors in Gupta Period

  Major Literary Works & Authors in Gupta Period The Gupta period was known as the Golden period of India in cultural development. It is considered as the one of the supreme and most outstanding times. Gupta Kings patronized the Sanskrit literature. They generously helped Sanskrit scholars and poets. Eventually Sanskrit language became the language of cultured and educated people. Kalidasa He was a Classical Sanskrit writer, extensively considered as the greatest poet and dramatist of Gupta Period. The six major works of Kalidasa are Abhijnanashakuntala Vikramorvashi Malavikagnimitra The epic poems Raghuvamsha Kumarasambhava Meghaduta Vishakhadatta The famous plays of Vishakhadatta are Mudrarakṣhasa Mudrarakshasha means “Ring of the Demon” and it recites the ascent of Chandragupta Maurya to throne. Shudraka He is a king as well as poet The famous three Sanskrit plays contributed by him are Mrichchhakatika (The Little Clay Cart) Vinavasavadatta A bhana (short one-act monologue) ...
Post a Comment
Read more

15 July – Current Affairs

15 July – Current Affairs National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) : Ø The Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries recently told the Parliament that it has advised NDDB to “extend the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 to its subsidiary companies including NDDB Dairy Services.” Ø Type: An Institution of National Importance set up by an Act of Parliament of India. Ø History: It was founded by Dr. Verghese Kurien in 1965. Ø Headquarters: Anand, Gujarat. Ø NDDB's subsidiaries include: IDMC Limited-Anand, Mother Dairy, Delhi, NDDB Dairy Services, Delhi and Indian Immunologicals Ltd, Hyderabad. World Youth Skill Day : Ø The fourth anniversary of the Skill India Mission is being observed on July 15, 2019 o the occassion of World Youth Skills Day. Ø The United Nations, at its General Assembly in November 2014, declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day.  Ø Traditionally organized by the Permanent Missions of Portugal and Sri Lanka, together w...
1 comment
Read more

14th July-Current Affairs

14th July-Current Affairs National Green Tribunal : Ø The Supreme Court has agreed to examine whether the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has the power to take cognisance of a matter suo motu (on its own). Ø Established in : 2010. Ø Established under: National Green Tribunal Act 2010. Consequent to enforcement of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, the National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995 and the National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997 have been repealed. Ø What is it? It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. Ø Functions: o    Effective disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. o    Enforcement of any legal right relating to environment. o    Giving relief for damages to persons and property for related matters. Ø Location: Initially, the NGT is proposed to be set up at...
Post a Comment
Read more