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17-Shiv-Dance

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17-Shiv-Dance

This story comes in Koyil Puraan - the Sthal Puraan of Chidaambaram

There is a forest named Taarak forest. Once many Rishi gathered for the practices of Meemaansaa. Shiv also went there to confront them along with Vishnu in the disguise of a beautiful woman and Aadi Shesh Naag. Shiv caused a violent quarrel among those Rishi, so those Rishi got angry at Shiv and tried to destroy him by magic They produced a magical tiger from the Yagya fire and made him attack Shiv. But Shiv was unmoved by his moves and he ripped off his skin only with his small finger's nail and wrapped himself in it as if he has worn a silk cloth.

Rishi did not get discouraged with this failure, so this time they produced a Naag. Shiv smiling caught him and wore him in his neck like a garland. Then he began dancing. But the Rishi were not yet discouraged, this time they produced a dwarf named Muyaalakan and he rushed towards Shiv to attack him. Shiv just touched him with the tip of his foot and broke his spine. He fell down on the ground. Shiv resumed his dance. Description of his dance is given in "Patanjali Charit", 4.61-67.

The myths and legends of Chidaambaram state that Shiv was compelled to continue his dance at Chidaambaram, rather in the Taarak forest, because that forest could not bear his energies. "Soot Sanhitaa" (8, 9, 47) says that his dance cannot be seen even by great saints; and only Paarvatee Jee is able to witness his dance.

Then how other Devtaa and sages can see his dance? When Shiv was dancing in Taarak forest he gave Divine sight to the sages to see his dance. If he had not given him Divine sight, they could never see his dance. Besides Paarvatee Jee, who is known as Shivakaamee in Chidaambaram Temple, and two other sages were also given his grace to see his dance - one was Patanjali who is the incarnation of Aadi Shesh himself, and the other one was Vyaaghrapaad, the father of Upamanyu for whom Shiv created the ocean of milk. Both Patanjali and Vyaaghrapaad were worshiping the original Ling at Chidaambaram with so much devotion that Shiv appeared before them and asked them to ask for a boon. They both asked to be the eternal witnesses of his dance. Shiv granted that boon to them.

 

 

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Created on March 15, 2003 and Updated on February 12, 2013
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