The Symbolism Of Nataraja
A very beautiful symbol of the union of Nature and Divine, Nataraja holds fire in one hand, which represents the fire element, and a damru (a kind of small drum, hourglass-like drum) in his other hand, which depicts the space element.
Many forces in the universe are represented by a shape similar to that of a damru, like a chromosome, or shapes of galaxies, and so on. Time is also said to have a conical representation.
∞ is the symbol (shape of the damru) that represents infinity. Shiva’s hair is open and flying, representing the air element. One foot on the ground symbolizes prithvi (Earth element), another in the air. One hand is the symbolic abhayahasta, symbolizing protection, and the other points to his feet, symbolizing surrender. With one foot already in the air, he has already taken a step towards the devotee while he says, “You are dear to me”.
Shiva is dancing (in the form of Nataraja). Life should be like this. If both feet are stuck on the ground, then you cannot dance. Even to walk you need to take one foot off the ground. The entire Creation is full of bliss. The entire Creation is dancing in bliss. The entire Creation is longing for bliss, and Nataraja represents that Ananda Tattva (bliss) that the whole world is longing for.
Every atom in the world is filled with the potential for action, yet it is at peace. Shiva, the principle of infinite peace and bliss, is not inert. It is peaceful, yet dancing.
Shiva as Nataraja is all three – Shrusti, Sthiti, Pralaya karta. He keep ignorance trapped under his feet. He has agni hotram. He has a smile on his face.
Cern And The God Particle
Why does CERN have a statue of Shiva?
The Shiva statue was a gift from India to celebrate its association with CERN, which started in the 1960’s and remains strong today. In the Hindu religion, Lord Shiva practiced Nataraj dance which symbolises Shakti, or life force. This deity was chosen by the Indian government because of a metaphor that was drawn between the cosmic dance of the Nataraj and the modern study of the ‘cosmic dance’ of subatomic particles. India is one of CERN’s associate member states. CERN is a multicultural organisation that welcomes scientists from more than 100 countries and 680 institutions. The Shiva statue is only one of the many statues and art pieces at CERN.
Why is the Higgs boson referred to as the God particle?
The Higgs boson is the linchpin of the Standard Model of particle physics but experimental physicists weren’t able to observe it until the arrival of the LHC, nearly 50 years after the particle was first postulated. Leon Lederman coined the term ‘the God particle’ in his popular 1993 book ‘The God Particle: If the Universe Is the Answer, What is the Question?’ written with Dick Teresi. In their book, Lederman and Teresi claim the nickname originated because the publisher wouldn’t allow them to call it ‘the Goddamn Particle’ – a name that reflected the difficulty in observing the elusive boson. The name caught on through the media attention it attracted but is disliked by both clerics and scientists.
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Nataraja At The CERN
Source:
https://home.cern/resources/faqs/cern-answers-queries-social-media
Aldous Huxley Describes the Dancing Shiva Nataraja
Listen To It HERE.
Nataraja – From Ancient History To Modern Physics
Read more HERE.
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