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{{Short description|Divine dance performed by the Hindu god Shiva}}
{{redirect|Tandav|the 2014 film|Tandav (film)|the 1984 Telugu film|Tandava Krishnudu|the 2021 TV series|Tandav (TV series)}}

[[File:Shiva as the Lord of Dance LACMA edit.jpg|thumb|A Shiva Nataraja idol in [[Tamil Nadu]], India]]

'''Tandava''' (also spelled as '''{{IAST|Tāṇḍavam}}''') also known as '''{{IAST|Tāṇḍava natyam}}''', is a divine dance performed by [[Hindu deities|Hindu god]] [[Shiva]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=MW Cologne Scan|url=https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/scans/csl-apidev/servepdf.php?dict=MW&page=441|access-date=2021-06-06|website=www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de}}</ref><ref>James Lochtefeld (2002), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, , Rosen Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0823931798}}, pages 687</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Tandava {{!}} Indian dance|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/tandava|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref name="NS"/>{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=407}}

The ''[[Natya Shastra]]'', a Sanskrit treatise on the performing arts describes various aspects of the Tandava.

==Description==

Tandava, as performed in the sacred dance-drama of India, has vigorous, brisk movements. Performed with joy, the dance is called ''[[Ānanda (Hindu philosophy)|Ananda]] Tandava''. Performed in a violent mood, the dance is called ''Raudra'' or ''Rudra Tandava''. The types of Tandava found in the Hindu texts are: Ananda Tandava, Tripura Tandava, Sandhya Tandava, Samhara Tandava, Kali (Kalika) Tandava, Uma Tandava, Shiva Tandava, Krishna Tandava and Gauri Tandava.{{sfn|Manohar Laxman Varadpande|1987|p=154}}

Shiva's Tandava is described as a vigorous dance that is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution. While the ''Rudra Tandava'' depicts his violent nature, first as the creator and later as the destroyer of the universe, even of death itself, the ''Ananda Tandava'' depicts him as joyful. In [[Shaiva Siddhanta]] tradition, Shiva as [[Nataraja]] (lit. "King of dance"<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=44MTBwAAQBAJ&q=nataraja+king+of+the+dance&pg=PA74|title=Everyday Hinduism|page=74|author=Joyce Burkhalter Flueckiger|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|date=23 February 2015|isbn=978-1118528181}}</ref>) is considered to be supreme lord of dance.<ref name="ananda"/>

Tandava takes its name from ''Tandu'' ({{IAST|taṇḍu}}), the attendant of Shiva, who instructed [[Bharata Muni|Bharata]] (author of the [[Natya Shastra]]) in the use of ''Angaharas'' and ''[[Karana dance|Karana]]s''<ref name="NS">[https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-natyashastra/d/doc209696.html Natya-shastra IV.263-264]</ref> modes of the Tandava at Shiva's order. Some scholars consider that Tandu himself must have been the author of an earlier work on the [[dramaturgy|dramatic art]]s, which was incorporated into the Natya Shastra.<ref>''Quarterly Journal of the Andhra Historical Research Society,'' part III, pp. 25-26, as cited in {{harvnb|Manohar Laxman Varadpande|1987|p=154}}</ref> The ''Natya Shastra'' portrays Shiva narrating about the various aspects of the dance to the god [[Brahma]].<ref name="NS"/>

The 32 Angaharas and 108 Karanas are discussed by Bharata in the 4th chapter of the Natya Shastra, ''Tandava Lakshanam''.<ref>Ragini Devi, ''Dance Dialects of India,'' pp. 29-30. Motilal Banarsidass (1990) {{ISBN|81-208-0674-3}}</ref> Karana is the combination of hand gestures with feet to form a dance posture. Angahara is composed of seven or more Karanas.{{sfn|Manohar Laxman Varadpande|1987|p=154}}

<blockquote>
"How many various dances of Shiva are known to His worshipers I cannot say. No doubt the root idea behind all of these dances is more or less one and the same, the manifestation of primal rhythmic energy. Whatever the origins of Shiva's dance, it became in time the clearest image of the activity of God which any art or religion can boast of." - [[Ananda Coomaraswamy]]<ref name="ananda">[https://web.archive.org/web/20170817194048/http://www.sscnet.ucla.edu/southasia/Religions/Avatars/Natar.html Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, "The Dance of Shiva", in ''The Dance of Shiva: Fourteen Indian Essays,'' rev. ed. (New York: Noonday Press, (1957)] {{ISBN|81-215-0153-9}}. Cited, "Nataraja", ''Manas,'' UCLA</ref>
</blockquote>
[[File:Kadavul tandavas.jpg|thumb|The 108 Karanas of Tandava depicted in Nataraja sculptures.]]
The dance is described as a pictorial allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy:<ref name="ananda" />
* ''Srishti'' - creation, evolution
* ''[[Sthiti]]'' - preservation, support
* ''Samhara'' - destruction, evolution
* ''Tirodhana'' - illusion
* ''Anugraha'' - release, emancipation, grace

The dance performed by Shiva's wife [[Parvati]] in response to Shiva's Tandava is known as [[Lasya]], in which the movements are gentle, graceful and sometimes erotic. Some scholars consider Lasya to be the feminine version of Tandava. Lasya has 2 kinds, Jarita Lasya and Yauvaka Lasya.

The Hindu scriptures narrate various occasions when Shiv performed the Tandava. When [[Sati (goddess)|Sati]] (first wife of Shiva, who was reborn as Parvati) gave up her life in [[Daksha yajna|Daksha's sacrifice]], Shiva is said to have performed the Rudra Tandava to express his grief and anger. The ''Shivapradosha stotra'' says when Shiva performs the ''Sandhya Tandava'', the other gods like [[Brahma]], [[Vishnu]], [[Sarasvati]], [[Lakshmi]] and [[Indra]] play musical instruments and sing Shiva's praises.{{sfn|Manohar Laxman Varadpande|1987|p=154}}

[[Shiva Tandava Stotram]] is a stotra (Hindu hymn) that describes Shiva's power and beauty.

==Association with other deities==
[[File:Indischer Maler um 1640 001.jpg|thumb|right|Krishna dancing over the subdued [[Kaliya|Kāliya]] and his wives Naginis asking Krishna for his mercy. From a Bhagavata Purana manuscript, c. 1640.]]

[[Ganesha]], the son of Shiva, is depicted as ''Ashtabhuja tandavsa nritya murtis'' (Eight armed form of Ganesha dancing the Tandava) in temple sculptures.{{sfn|Manohar Laxman Varadpande|1987|p=5}}

The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' talks of [[Krishna]] dancing his Tandava on the head of the serpent [[Kaliya]].{{sfn|Manohar Laxman Varadpande|1987|p=98}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Theatre And Dance Traditions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sVNQAAAAMAAJ|page=14|author=Shovana Narayan|publisher=Harman Publishing House|date=1 January 2004|isbn=978-8186622612}}</ref> King [[Chikka Devaraja]] (the fourteenth [[Maharaja of Mysore|maharaja]] of the [[Kingdom of Mysore]]) minted a series of gold coins called "Devaraja [with] the image of dancing Krishna" (''tandava krishnamurti devaraja'') to commemorate his coronation.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cMHADwAAQBAJ&pg=PA267|title=Devotional Sovereignty: Kingship and Religion in India|page=8|author=Caleb Simmons|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2 December 2019|isbn=978-0190088910}}</ref> [[Purandara Dasa]] calls the dancing Krishna ("Nritya Krishna") as "Tandava Krishna".<ref>{{cite book|author=Tumuluri Seetharama Lakshmi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cBTmAAAAMAAJ|title=A study of the compositions of Purandaradāsa and Tyāgarāja|publisher=Veda Sruti Publications|year=1994|page=116}}</ref>

According to [[Jain]] traditions, Indra is said to have performed the Tandava in honour of [[Rishabha (Jain tirthankar)]] on the latter's birth.{{sfn|Manohar Laxman Varadpande|1987|p=146}}
==Indian classical dance==
In [[Kathak]] dance three types of Tandavas are generally used, they are, Krishna Tandava, Shiva Tandava and Ravana Tandava, but sometimes a fourth variety - Kalika Tandava, is also often used.<ref>{{cite book|title=Classical and Folk Dances of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tzwOAQAAIAAJ|publisher=Marg Publications|year=1963|page=43|quote=There are three types of Tandavas generally used in Kathak, namely, Krishna Tandava, Shiva Tandava and Ravana Tandava, but sometimes a fourth variety - Kalika Tandava, is also recognised .}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Kathak, Classical Dance of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l6kkAQAAIAAJ|page=12|author=Marie Joy Curtiss|publisher=University of the State of New York|year=1970}}</ref> [[Bharatanatyam]] and [[Kuchipudi]] have variants of Krishna dancing his Tandava on Kaliya.<ref>{{cite book|author=Lavanya Vemsani|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4fw2DAAAQBAJ|title=Krishna in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names: An Encyclopedia of the Hindu Lord of Many Names|date=13 June 2016|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781610692113|page=220|quote=Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi developed a style of dance known as Tandava, a set of vigorous dance moves mainly performed with brisk movements of the feet, which was once said to have been performed by the child Krishna while he deafeated the sepant Kaliya in Kalind lake in Brindavan.|author-link=Lavanya Vemsani}}</ref>

The [[Manipuri dance]] is categorized as either "Tandava" (vigorous, usually go with Shiva, Shakti or Krishna as warrior-savior themed plays) or lasya (delicate,<ref>{{cite book|author=Vimalakānta Rôya Caudhurī|title=The Dictionary of Hindustani Classical Music|url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofhind00roya|url-access=registration|year=2000|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-1708-1|page=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofhind00roya/page/80 80]}}</ref> usually go with love stories of Radha and Krishna).{{Sfn|Reginald Massey|2004|pp=193-194}}{{Sfn|Saryu Doshi|1989|pp=xvi-xviii, 44-45}} In the Krishna Tandava in Raslila performance of Manipuri dance is graceful yet with swift movement and acrobatic gestures.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Raslila Performance Tradition of Manipur in Northeast India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HAw7eAozMjwC|author=Angana Jhaveri|publisher=Michigan State University. Department of Theater|year=1986|page=105|quote=Krishna tandava as used in the raslila has very spritely and joyful dance movements. It involves small quick movements, light springy jumps, fast footwork, spinning at a dizzy speed and some acrobatic movements. But the overall effect of the form is that of grace and delicacy suitable to the romantic and youthful character of Krishna.}}</ref>

== Sculpture ==
The 108 karanas of Tandava have inspired Shiva sculptures of the 1st-millennium BCE, particularly the Tandava style which fuses many of these into a composite image found at the [[Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram|Nataraja temple]] of [[Chidambaram]].{{Sfn|Dalal|2014|p=278}}<ref>{{cite book|author=Brenda Pugh McCutchen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C0yjXGJ3EEoC|title=Teaching Dance as Art in Education|publisher=Human Kinetics|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7360-5188-0|pages=450}}</ref>

Shiva as Nataraja or Krishna dancing dancing the Tandava is a recurring theme in the [[Chola dynasty|Chola period]] bronzes. Various Shiva temples in South India depict the dancing Nataraja.<ref>{{cite book|author=Sehdev Kumar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nSDACkmA_ukC|title=A Thousand Petalled Lotus: Jain Temples of Rajasthan : Architecture & Iconography|publisher=Abhinav Publications|year=2001|isbn=978-8170173489|page=184}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book |author=Manohar Laxman Varadpande |title=History of Indian Theatre |publisher=Abhinav |year=1987 |isbn = 978-81-7017-278-9 }}
* {{cite book|author=Reginald Massey|title=India's Dances: Their History, Technique, and Repertoire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t6MJ8jbHqIwC |year=2004|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-434-9 }}
*{{cite book|author=Saryu Doshi|title=Dances of Manipur: The Classical Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xRbkAAAAMAAJ|year=1989|publisher=Marg Publications|isbn=978-81-85026-09-1}}
*{{cite book|last= Dalal |first=Roshen |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT120|year=2014 | publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-81-8475-277-9 }}

==External links==
* [https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-natyashastra/d/doc209696.html Description of the Class Dance (''tāṇḍava'')], Chapter IV of the Nāṭyaśāstra

{{Dance in India}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{Shaivism}}

[[Category:Dances of India]]
[[Category:Hindu mythology]]
[[Category:Shaivism]]

Tandava - Revision history

GildaNolan0093: improve layout based on references and added references based on references

imported>SdkbBot: /* Association with other deities */removed erroneous space