Editing Ananda Tandava Of Nataraja - 27

{| class="wikitable infobox" style="float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width:320px;"
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! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; font-size:120%; font-weight:bold;" | Ananda Tandava Of Nataraja - 27
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| '''Category'''
| गांधर्व विभाग / Performing Arts
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| '''Author'''
| k s kannan
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| '''Publication'''
| Bhāratīya Jñāna Saritā
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| '''Location'''
| India
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| '''Date'''
| Fri Oct 15 2021
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'''[https://articles.ayvm.in/2019/02/dr-k-s-kannan-profile.html Dr. K S Kannan]'''

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'''Respond to ([mailto:lekhana@ayvm.in lekhana@ayvm.in])'''

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<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="font-size:13.5pt"> </span><span id="m_-692804177013012309gmail-docs-internal-guid-6cd87856-7fff-4def-5f54-108c682c1659" style="font-weight:normal"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-style:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:197px;height:138px">[[File:YY_2dmfknoJoaAhYP90WUdXAN-vyvpXgB_6VIib543SIrlX_-X1tG7rl3gVfvAerzOx0qvzyPI1aQeoDlQz4GVVJf7DnZWR7rj3l8AzzhUjwKZip4ODCrUqVHoID9vn5k9cRhLdi_s0.png|197x138px]]</span></span></span> </span>

<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The arms</span>

<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The image has four arms, two normal ones in front, two additional ones closely behind but attached to the frontal ones, which seem to sprout from the shoulder joints. The front arms are both turned rightwards; the left one is so stretched to the right as to cover the bosom, and is known technically as</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Gaja-hasta</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (&quot;the Elephant-Hand&quot;) or </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Daṇḍa-hasta</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (&quot;the Staff Hand&quot;). It is bent at the end, with the fingers pointing towards the bent left foot (called </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Kuñcita-pāda</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">), in a graceful manner.</span>

<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">          </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Daṇḍa-hasta</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> is indeed indicative of a position conducive to the practice of breath control (</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prāṇāyāma</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">), which is essential to yoga. As a consequence of the particular position of the legs, the </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">apāna</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (&quot;the Downward Breath&quot;, approximately) has moved upwards, and needs now to be held in check lest it relapse downwards. And this is achieved by the stretched left hand, which is actually pressed somewhat upon the bosom, upon the left portion, the </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prakṛti-bhāga</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, of the frame. The band that is tied at the waist - at the point of the diaphragm, reinforces and reiterates this pressure. All this is a matter of sheer yogic practice, hardly recorded in yogic texts, and there can hardly be anything to &quot;prove&quot; here with a mass of textual evidence, except the actual yogic experience of a master-yogin, endowed at once with expertise in observation and articulation that Śrīraṅgamahāguru was.</span>

<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Prāṇa</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Apāna</span>

<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">          </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The front right arm is positioned in the gesture of &quot;Promise of freedom from fear&quot; (</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Abhaya-mudrā</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">). As for the hind arms, they are stretched sideways. The left arm is bent at the elbow accentuating its beauty. This </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ardha-candra</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (&quot;Half-Moon&quot;) hand holds a blazing fire. The right arm in the rear holds a hand-drum (</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ḍamaru</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">), which Śiva appears to be sounding gently. The fire and the drum respectively represent </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prāṇa</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">apāna </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(the twin aspects, the upward and the downward flow, of &quot;vital energy&quot;)</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">,</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> there being a general equation between </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">apāna</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">agni</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> (&quot;fire&quot;). In fact, the </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ḍamaru</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> itself symbolises the &quot;movements&quot; of </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prāṇa</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">apāna</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, for the alternation of the two strings of this drum expresses the movement of the </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">jīva</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span>

<span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">It is this balance or harmony between </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prāṇa</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">apāna</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> is what is considered the very essence of </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prāṇāyāma </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(Cf. </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bhagavad-gītā </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">5.27 : </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prāṇāpānau samau kṛtvā</span><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span>

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