Nataraja - the Lord of Dance (Dancing Shiva)

source

Nataraja (read: Nuh-tuh-raa-jaa) is the depiction of the Hindu God Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe to make way for the process of creation. In Hindu belief, Shiva as Nataraja appears at the end of one cosmic cycle and the beginning of the next, and is thus associated with both creation and destruction. In his hands he holds both the destructive fire and the double-sided drum, the sound from which summons up new creation.

Etymology
Nāṭaraja is derived from the Sanskrit words narta rājan "lord of dance".

Form of the Sculpture
The sclupture is usually made in bronze.
As a symbol, Shiva Nataraja is a marvelously unified and dynamic invention. In a single image, it combines Lord Shiva's roles as a creator, preserver, and destroyer of the universe and conveys the Indian concept of the never-ending cycle of time. Its present form evolved under the rule of the Cholas. To give you a basic idea of what the various aspects of the symbol represent -

1. Shiva's dance is set within an arch of flames that represent the manifesting Universe.
2. He holds in his upper right hand a small hourglass shaped drum called the Damaru (hand drum that made the first sounds of creation. It also stands for the male-female vital principle).
3. His upper left hand holds Agni (the fire that will destroy the universe).
4. With his lower right hand, he makes Abhayamudra (gesture of assertion: "Be without fear.").
5. The dwarf-like figure being trampled by his right foot represents Apasmara Purusha (the illusion and ignorance which leads mankind astray - over whom Lord Shiva triumphs)
6. The Snakes that are draped around his neck stand for 'egoism'
7. Shiva's front left hand, pointing to his raised left foot, signifies refuge for the troubled soul.
8. The energy of his dance makes his hair whirl around representing the endless cycle of birth and death
9. On his head is a Skull - which symbolizes his conquest over death.
10. Goddess Ganga, the epitome of the holy river Ganges, also sits on his hairdo.
11. His third eye is symbolic of his omniscience, insight, and enlightenment
12. The snake swirling around his waist is kundalini (read: kun-dhaa-lee-nee; literally means coiled), the Shakti or divine force thought to reside within everything. This also parallels the cords of life worn by the Brahmins to represent the second rebirth.
13. The whole idol rests on a lotus pedestal, the symbol of the creative forces of the universe.
14. The stoic face of Shiva represents his neutrality, thus being in balance.

The symbols imply that - through belief in Shiva, his devotees can achieve salvation!

source: Here's a painting for you to see the aspects better

"O my Lord, Thy hand holding the sacred drum has made and ordered the heavens and earth and other worlds and innumerable souls. Thy lifted hand protects both the conscious and unconscious order of thy creation. All these worlds are transformed by Thy hand bearing fire. Thy sacred foot, planted on the ground, gives an abode to the tired soul struggling in the toils of causality. It is Thy lifted foot that grants eternal bliss to those that approach Thee. These Five-Actions are indeed Thy Handiwork."

~ Chidambara Mummani Kovai ~

Significance of the Cosmic dance

This dance of Shiva is called 'Ananda Tandavam' (read: aa-nun-dha-thaa-n-duh-vuhm) meaning the Dance of Bliss, and symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as well as the daily rhythm of birth and death.
The dance is a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy

• Shrishti (creation, evolution)
• Sthithi (preservation, support)
• Samhara (destruction, evolution)
• Tirobhava (illusion)
• Anugraha (release, emancipation, salvation)

The overall temper of the image is paradoxical, uniting the inner tranquility, and outside activity of Shiva.

There are other forms of the Shiva dance... we'll discuss about them later  

What is the Pancha Sabhai?

Pancha Sabhai Sthala (read: punch-uh sub-hai sthuh-luh) refers to the temples of Lord Nataraja, where he performed the Cosmic Dance. Pancha means Five, Sabhai means Hall and Sthala means Place. All these temples are located in Tamil Nadu, India. (we'll talk about these temples later) 

A Scientific Metaphor

Fritzof Capra in his article "The Dance of Shiva: The Hindu View of Matter in the Light of Modern Physics" beautifully relates Lord Nataraja's dance with modern physics. According to him, "every subatomic particle not only performs an energy dance, but also is an energy dance; a pulsating process of creation and destruction…without end…For the modern physicists, then Shiva's dance is the dance of subatomic matter. As in Hindu mythology, it is a continual dance of creation and destruction involving the whole cosmos; the basis of all existence and of all natural phenomena." 

Generally...

At the beginning of every Bharatanatyam performance, artistes pay obeisance on stage to a statue of Lord Nataraja, the king of dance. This common practice is also carried out to invoke the deity's blessings so that the dancers perform well without any obstacle.