[Sw-l] Sutton DanceWriting: Na ṭarāja

[Sutthikhun Phaengphongsai]

Hello SW List members,

I assume some of you saw my latest DanceWriting work that I uploaded on the
Sutton SignWriting Facebook group. On the recommendation of Valerie, the
inventor of both SW and DW, I will also submit this work to both the FB
group and the SW List. ;)

*Introduction*
The dancer, *Shiva*: the Lord of Dancers in Hinduism, has four arms and
three eyes, as well as symbolisms held on his hands and stepped with his
foot. As a result, a typical human dancer with only two arms and two eyes
would be unable to perform this kind of dancing, *Ananda Tandava*,
precisely with the Lord Shiva. Writing *Shiva*'s dance motions in numerous
DW/SW symbols is therefore truly fascinating, since it can be observed that
only one step of dance has up to four different hand gestures and one
third-eye.

*Description*
*Naṭarāja* / நடராஜர் / नटराज / Lord of Dancers
Transcribed on 05 Aug 2021 by Sutthikhun Phaengphongsai
Shiva performs the *Ananda Tandava* (dance of bliss), the dance in which
the universe is created, maintained, and dissolved.

Hands

   - The upper right hand holds a small drum. A specific hand gesture is
   used to hold the drum. It symbolizes rhythm and time.
   - The upper left hand contains fire, which signifies forces of creation
   and destruction. The opposing concepts show the counterpoise nature of life.
   - The lower left hand is bent downwards at the wrist with the palm
   facing inward, and also noted that this arm crosses his chest, concealing
   his heart from view. It represents “occlusion, concealment.”

Legs

   - His legs are bent, which suggests an energetic dance.
   - The demon dwarf upon whom *Nataraja* dances is the demon *Apasmara
   purusha*, and who symbolizes the demonic evil and ignorance over which
   the sacred dance of *Shiva* gives victory.

Face

   - The face shows two eyes plus a slightly open third on the forehead,
   which symbolize the triune in *Shaiv*ism. The eyes represent the sun,
   the moon and the third has been interpreted as the inner eye, or symbol of
   knowledge, urging the viewer to seek inner wisdom, self-realization.
   - The slightly smiling face of *Shiva* represents his calmness despite
   being immersed in the contrasting forces of the universe and his energetic
   dance.

*References*

   - *Nataraja*. English Wikipedia. (2021). Retrieved 6 August 2021, from
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nataraja.
   - Sutton, V. (1979). *Dance writing for modern and jazz dance*. Sutton
   Movement Writing Press.
   - Sutton, V., & Frost, A. (2011). *SignWriting hand symbols* (1st ed.).
   The SignWriting Press.

Thanks for your interest,
[image: sign (27).png]
Sutthikhun (Ae)

[image: Nataraja.png]

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