[Sw-l] Sutton DanceWriting: Na ṭarāja

[Suzanne Pach]

Hi Sutthikhun,

Wow, really beautiful and interesting to read your explanation.

I wondered why the head is drawn separately from the body. Or is that how
you’re supposed to do it with DanceWriting? (Reading more about
DanceWriting is still on my todo-list 😅).

Is Shiva always shown in this exact way or also for example with the arms
in different positions or holding different symbols?

Have a nice day :)
Suzanne

Op do 5 aug. 2021 om 22:32 schreef Sutthikhun Phaengphongsai <
suttikunep at gmail.com>

> 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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>
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>
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