The Dance of Siva: Religion, Art and Poetry in South India (Cambridge Studies in Religious Traditions)

The Dance of Siva is a complete account of Siva's Dance of Bliss, which is based on a remarkable Sanskrit poem written by Umapati Sivacarya about 1300 AD. Siva is one of the two main gods of Hinduism. The book deals with the famous Chola Nataraja bronze—today the best-known Hindu image, the key location of Siva's Dance in South India, and the temple of Cidambaram. Dr. Smith explores all aspects of Nataraja and the Goddess, and the temple, its priests and ritual. Relevant contemporary art from Cidambaram and neighboring sites illuminates the text. "This book gives a detailed account of Siva's Dance of Bliss by explicating a Sanskrit poem written in the fourteenth century by Umapati Sivacarya, Saiva theologian and temple priest. The bronze image of the King of Dancers, the God's temple in Cidambaram, South India, and its priests are all viewed in the light of the poem. Umapati's Saiva theology is discussed in relation to his life, and also in relation to Vedanta and yoga."--Jacket The metal image, the Dancing God defined in iconography and expressed in bronze, is at the heart of the poem.