The legend of Nataraja form of Lord Shiva is inspiring, meaningful

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Mumbai: Dance is one of the most beautiful forms of expressions. We have often heard of Lord Shiva performing the Rudra Tandav when driven by anger and the Ananda Tandav in complete blissfulness. Each form of the Lord has great significance of its own. And for the uninitiated, Lord Shiva in his dancing form is famous as Nataraja.

In this post, we will share a popular legend associated with the Nataraja form of Lord Shiva which is inspiring and meaningful.

Shiva is believed to have taken the form of Nataraja to subdue the power or arrogance of a dwarf named Apasmara who represented ignorance/darkness. He was growing egotistical day-by-day. Though the Almighty could eliminate him, he was spared from destruction because his annihilation would make knowledge meaningless. None would strive to attain knowledge. Hence ignorance and knowledge had to coexist in order to establish the difference between the two. As Nataraja, Lord Shiva quietened Apasmara under his right foot and stood in the posture for eternity to restrain ignorance.

Thus knowledge existed with ignorance to maintain a balance.