Bharata Natyam and the five elements of nature

Bharata Natyam is the oldest and most popular classical dance style of India. It is believed that Lord Brahma created Bharatha Natyam as the fifth Veda. Brahma did so at the request of the gods, who wanted an activity that was physically, mentally, and spiritually stimulating, and at the same time entertaining. Brahma created the fifth veda, called Natya Veda, by combining the essence of the existing four Vedas—Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharvana Veda. He then handed it to Indra, the king of the gods, who found it difficult to comprehend; the job was therefore given to sage Bharata, who wrote the Natya Sastra. The Natya Sastra is the oldest text on dance in existence and the most complete work ever to be done in that field. So it is assumed that Bharata's Natya Sastra is therefore rightly called "Bharata Natya"

Another popular explanation for the name Bharata Natyam is that the name Bharata is composed of the first syllables of the following words: Bhava, or mood; Raga, or melody; and Tala, or rhythm. Thus, Bharata Natyam is a combination of mood, melody and rhythm.

Bharata Natyam is closely intertwined with Hindu beliefs, mythology, and Carnatic music, the classical music of South India which is the foundation of dance. A dancer must have a thorough knowledge of classical music in order to achieve mastery in choreography in the field of dance.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NATARAJA STATUE








This idol makes the five Elements out of which the universe is formed, become visible.
1) Fire: The flame in his left hand represents the Element Fire.
2) Air: The damaru represents the Element Air. The air inside it makes the sound, the vibration, possible.
I have heard another version to this. The snake around his neck represents the air as the snake slithers exactly in the same manner as the air(oxygen) slithers down throughout our system.
3) Ether: The fifth Element, Akasha or Ether, is invisible to us. It is the empty space, the Void, between his stable right leg and his lifted foot.
4) Earth: The Element Earth is the dwarf on whom he dances.
5) Water: The goddess Ganga, in his matted hair, from which flows the sacred river Ganges, represents the Element Water.

Nataraja, or dancing Shiva, also symbolizes the action of cosmic energy, which is the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe. The cosmic dance of Shiva represents five activities of the Lord:·
1) Srishti, or creation, attributed to Brahma - right hand holding damaru
2) Sthithi, or preservation, attributed to Vishnu - other right hand with fingers pointing up
3) Samhara, or destruction, attributed to Rudra - left hand with fire
4) Tirobhava, or illusion, attributed to Maheshwara - right leg trampling the demon, Muyalagan
5) Anugraha, or salvation, attributed to Sadashiva - the left leg lifted up and stretched to the right with the toe pointing up.