The Significance of Dance in Hinduism
Dance, like all other art forms, is universally regarded as a channel for both cultural and self-expression. As a form of cultural expression, dance is often used to dramatize cultural myths, legends, and other narratives. In contrast, dance as a method of self-expression is used to spontaneously communicate human emotions such as joy, sorrow, anger, love, eroticism, and sexual desire. Dance, for the followers of Hinduism, is no different in so much that it is widely practiced as an outlet for self-expression, and for the purpose of preserving Hindu religion and culture. However, the meaning of dance holds a much deeper significance for Hindus beyond just cultural and self-expression. For, it plays a key role in religious ritual and worship, a practice that stems from Hinduism's conceptualization of the dance form as symbolic of the cosmic dance of the universe. Indeed, it is the religion's concept of dance that explains its promotion of the art form as one way of experiencing the ecstasy and bliss of being united with the Divine or Absolute Reality. Hinduism's conceptualization of the art of dance is, in fact, embodied in the dancing images of several Hindu Gods such as Siva, Krisna, and Durga (also known as Sakti or Kali)1
The emphasis on bhakti (devotion) by the Saivite movement led to the promotion of the ancient Bharata Natyasastra (now known as Bharatnatyam), and the ritual practice of dance, which was inculcated through both wandering minstrels as well as temple dancers, known as devadasis or tevatacis (Younger, p. 88, 121). The Saivite movement was, however, not alone in the promotion of dance as a method of expressing devotion to God. For, the Vaishnavite movement, which developed almost simultaneously, equally stressed on the personal relationship between devotee and deity, and the importance of surrendering the self in wholehearted devotion (Brockington, p. 132-133). According to Ananda Coomaraswamy, regarded as one of the foremost modern ambassadors of Indian thought, the "Dancing Sivan" or Nataraja symbolizes the fact that... Indeed, the purpose of Siva's dance is twofold. Either he dances the ananda tandndava (Younger, p. 3) in the joy of overflowing power, dancing creation into existence, or he dances the Tandava dance of destruction (Zaehner, p. 85; Brockington, p. 72). Thus, it is evident that Hinduism saw the art form of dance as symbolic of the cosmic power underlying the natural processes of creation, being, and dying. In fact, it is largely this worldview that served as the foundation for the Hindu belief that ultimate bliss lies in union with the Divine Reality, which is only possible through moksha or liberation from the endless dance of life and death. It is several centuries since the bhakti movement's popularity spread across Hindu sects and cults all over India. Since then, India has seen the influence of both Islam and the Christian West through first the Mughal and then the British Empire. Yet, the bhakti doctrine survived and continues to flourish even today in modern, independent India. One reason for such tenacity could well be that the bhakti movement allowed devotees to know an intensely personal, religious experience through the energy and enjoyment generated by the practice of dance. Skeptics may doubt as to whether the devotees' are truly experiencing the bliss of being united with the Divine or Absolute Reality. However, there can be little doubt over the powerful, almost mesmeric energy generated by the singing and dancing devotees of Siva, Krisna, Rama, and Durga in Indian temples and other religious gatherings. The "Dancing Sivan," however, symbolizes much more than jus
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Approximate Word count = 1633
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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