Nataraja (Sanskrit for “king of dance”) is one of the most famous forms in which the god Shiva is depicted.
According to legend, Shiva’s dance sustains harmony and order throughout the whole world. Should he ever finish his dance (the tandava), chaos will engulf the world and the end of the world will come.
Shiva in his dance is usually depicted like this: his face is calm and serene; around him is a ring of fire, which symbolizes either the suffering of the soul through its chain of reincarnations before liberation, or else the fire is our Universe and Shiva is its center. Around his neck is a cobra, and a magical gesture is shown (the Abhaya mudra). This gesture protects against evil and dark intentions. Shiva is shown dancing on the back of the demon Apasmara. This signifies victory over ignorance, egoism, foolishness and dependence on the traps of one’s own mind.