tandava | तांडव

Tandava (Devanagari: तांडव ISO15919: tāṁḍava) is the vigorous, divine dance performed by Lord Shiva.

He performs this powerful dance primarily in a state of transcendental ecstasy. The dance is significant in two major contexts:

1. Cosmic Dissolution (pralaya): Shiva performs the Tandava before the dissolution of the universe, representing the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction.
2. Devotional Ecstasy: He also performs it in ecstasy upon obtaining the darshana (sacred sight) of Shri Radha or Shri Krishna. For example, He danced at the birth of Shri Radha and upon seeing the baby Krishna when He was barely two days old.

Further Reading and Reference

• Uniqueness of Krishna's divine form
• Shyama Shyam Geet - Love Songs of Shri Radha Krishna