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The Hindu scriptures narrate various occasions when Shiva or other gods
have performed the Tandava. When Sati (first wife of Shiva, who was
reborn as Parvati) jumped into the Agni Kunda (sacrificial fire) in
Daksha’s Yajna and gave up her life, Shiva is said to have performed the
Rudra Tandava to express his grief and anger. The Shivapradosha stotra
says when Shiva performs the Sandhya Tandava, the other gods like
Brahma, Vishnu, Sarasvati, Lakshmi and Indra play musical instruments
and sing Shiva’s praises. Ganesha, the son of Shiva, is depicted as
Ashtabhuja tandavsa nritya murtis (Eight armed form of Ganesha dancing
the Tandava) in temple sculptures. The Bhagavata Purana talks of
Krishna dancing his Tandava on the head of the serpent Kaliya. According
to Jain traditions, Indra is said to have performed the Tandava in
honour of Rishabha (Jain tirthankar) on the latter's birth.
(Manohar Laxman Varadpande)
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