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Please refer to the footnotes below for an explanation of some of the terms used in this poem.
Nandi, Patanjali and Vyaghrapada watched in awe,
Gasping in disbelief at what they saw.
Not a muscle moved, no one wished to miss,
The divine spectacle in their midst.
Music rose and filled the air,
Divine, melodious, soulful, rare.
With gentle, flowing movements like waves,
Lord Shiva emerged from the darkened caves.
His eyes softened with tender emotion,
Swimming in a sea of melting compassion.
All of creation swayed in a trance,
Blessed were they to witness this dance.
The music soon began to swell,
With the clanging of temple bells.
The bugle, trumpet and conch shells,
The clash of cymbals, the sound of 'Om',
High, medium and bass tones.
Regular, rhythmic 'mridangam' beats,
Moving hands and dancing feet.
The hands formed 'mudras', the fists tightening,
Changing postures, the speed of lightning.
The' wave like' moves surged with power,
Making the mighty quake and cower.
Demon 'Apasmara' shivered beneath,
Watching divine feet moving from underneath.
Eyes flashing, haunting, fiery,
Dizzying movements, full of frenzy,
Flames of fire radiating out,
Boundaries of universe lighting up.
Striking....swift....down came Shiva's foot,
Pounding, crushing 'illusion' underfoot.
The other foot rose high above,
Showing the way to divine love.
For a second everything froze,
Capturing divinity in its abode.
'Creation' revealed gently through 'lasya',
'Destruction' through 'Shiva Tandava'.
Balance within movement,
Constancy within change.
Peaceful, still, impassive face,
Blessings showered with utmost grace.
Reference
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Nandi - name of a bull which serves as the mount of Lord Shiva.
Pathanjali - an avatar of the cosmic serpent upon whom Lord Vishnu rests.
Vyaghrapada - a mythical rishi of ancient India who had feet like a tiger.
Apasmara - a dwarf who represented ignorance, illusion.
Lasya - dance movements filled with grace.
Tandava - vigorous dance by Lord Shiva.
Mudra - gestures with hands and fingers.
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