Shiva Tandavam

Tāṇḍava (ताण्डव) is a divine dance performed by the Hindu god Shiva. It is considered the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and destruction and symbolizes the interplay of dynamic and static divine energy flow with its five principles – creation, preservation, destruction, illusion and emancipation. Thus it is also a pictorial allegory of the daily rhythm of birth and death. Performed with joy, the dance is called Ananda Tandava. Performed in a violent mood, the dance is called Rudra Tandava. Shiva dances in Rudra Tandava or the dance of destruction in an aureole of fire, creating wild thunder storms all around the universe, even shattering the Sun, the Moon and stellar bodies.