Tantric Dances - Tandava and Kaosikii
Dharmadeva
Namaskar
For more on Tantric dances go to:
http://www.rawa.asia/mp3/Kaoshikii%20-%20The%20Dance%20of%20the%20Divine/
22 May 1979 evening, Hannover
Shrii Shrii Anandamurti
Lalita Mármika is purely a devotional dance. The elbows must be placed above the 90-degree position in relation to the shoulders. The upraised hands indicate the spirit of surrender.
Hands placed at 90 degrees indicate the strength of the arms of the dancer. Tándava expresses the spirit of strength. Your arms express strength and vigour. They are straight, meaning thereby that they are ready to fight death. One hand, holding a skull or fire or a snake, represents death, while the other hand is holding a dagger, representing the spirit to fight death.
Kaosikii: The two hands upraised and folded together represent, “Now I am trying to establish a link with Parama Purusa.” Both hands bending to the right indicate, “I know the right way to request You.” The bending of the body should be at 45-degree angular projection. The leftward movement represents, “I know how to fulfill Your demands.” The movement of bending in front suggests complete surrender. The backward bending represents, “I am ready to face all troubles that may come.” The last “tá, tá” represents, “O Lord, I repeat Your rhythm.”
All three of these dances are devotional dances, and as such are Mudraic.
Even before Sadáshiva there were songs and dances, but there was no system. Lord Sadáshiva brought that music and those dances within the scope of a system. There are mainly two kinds of dances. Some are more rhythmic and less Mudraic while others are more Mudraic and less rhythmic. The Oriental School of dance is more Mudraic and less rhythmic, while the Occidental dance is more rhythmic and less Mudraic.
A mudrá expresses Bháva without creating any sound. For example, if you call someone to come near you, you make a particular movement of your palm [gives Mudrá]. When you tell somebody to go away you make another kind of movement with your palm [gives Mudrá]. Similarly, when you feel very hot and need a fan you make a particular style of movement with your hand. Again, when you feel thirsty and need a glass of water to drink you make a particular corresponding Mudrá.
Thus while offering something respectfully to your superior you make a forward and then downward movement of both palms with palms upwards. But such offerings meant for those who have died – or the “Pitrpurusa” is made by another type of movement of the palms rotated sideways.
Similarly, there are Dharma Cakra Pravartana Mudrá, Varábhaya Mudrá and many others. Among the Mudrás, some are meant for the psycho-spiritual benefit of sádhakas. Similarly, there are some bad Mudrás which are used in Avidyá Tantra. For instance, while cursing somebody, the forefinger is raised and used. In Samskrta the forefinger is called “Tarjanii”, which means “scolding”. The movement of the forefinger represents vanity, and therefore at the time of Japa the use of this finger should be avoided.
Good men should never curse anybody
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