The Dancing Nataraja
The rhythm of life,
The pulse that sets the beat,
The measured mathematical monitor,
The Taal that sets the pace.
Tat - dhit - tom - nam - Tat - dhit -tom -nam
Nataraja - the distinguished dancer,
Majestic and magnanimous,
A top the Himalayan heights,
Dancing with timeless, boundless energy.
The movements so vibrant
That even nature stands still - so astounded !
He leaps and lounges,
Swings, slides, and stamps -
So loud that the earth trembles !
The vibrations so powerful !
Nataraja - the splendorous dancer,
Adorned with a crescent moon and stars,
Sparkling with breathtaking brightness
On his knotted hair.
The beautiful Ganga - mermaid like,
Playfully hiding behind his thick locks,
Surrounded by a wreath of cassia leaves.
A cobra round his neck - alert and unaffected,
By the luminous diamond jewellery,
Tiger skin cloth and tight fitting breaches !
Nataraja - the cosmic dancer,
With four hastas so scintillating !
The right hasta with a damaru,
The symbol, speech and song !
The sign of destruction and demolition !
A hasta held in serene gesture to protect and to bless,
Yet, another hasta stretched to attain salvation !
The right leg firmly stamping away ignorance,
The left leg raised high in search of supreme knowledge !
Nataraja - the magnificent posture,
The cycle of creation, existence and sustenance,
The rhythm maker of the magical sound !
Reverberating with measured accuracy !
Just like the heartbeat so vital for a life to exist,
So is the rhythmic dance and the awesome postures !
Why this rhythmic dance and the awesome postures ?
Is it just for merriment of thecognitive pleasures ?
Or just for the thrill of an exciting moment ?
Just ponder !
The rhythm of life,
The pulse that sets the beat,
The measured mathematical monitor,
The taal that sets the pace.
Tat - dhit -tom - nam - Tat - dhit - tom - nam.
