In Hindu mythology, the cosmic dance performed by Shiva is called the Tandava.
Tandava is associated with Shiva’s immense energy and appears in several forms and contexts. The dance can express creation, preservation, destruction, illusion, and release, depending on the tradition and the specific form being described. The fierce form is often called Rudra Tandava, while the Anandatandava represents Shiva’s blissful cosmic dance.
The famous Nataraja image shows Shiva as the Lord of Dance. In this form, he dances within a ring of flames, raises one foot, and crushes the dwarf Apasmara beneath the other. Apasmara commonly symbolizes ignorance, although interpretations of the icon’s details vary.
Tandava is often contrasted with Lasya, a gentler dance traditionally associated with Parvati. It is also distinct from Garba, a Gujarati devotional dance, and Raslila, the devotional dance associated with Krishna and the gopis. Modern Indian classical dance uses the term in technical and artistic contexts beyond its mythological meaning.