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Shiva Nataraja
Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, bronze sculpture, 11th century.
Musée Guimet, Paris.
The Hindu god is represented in his triple role as Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer. He stands within a flaming halo representing Time, which is cyclical and has no end. He has one foot on the dwarf figure Apasmara Purusha, who represents illusion and who leads men away from truth. He holds in his top left hand the fire (agni) which will destroy the universe and in his top right hand the drum (damaru) which made the first sounds of the creation. The lower right hand makes the abhayamudra gesture, which calms all fear and the lower left hand points to his left foot, symbol of salvation.
Questions & Answers
Who is the oldest god in world history?
- There are many contenders for the "oldest god" title. Among them are Brahma and Shiva of Hinduism and Inanna of ancient Sumer.
What is the dying-and-reviving god?
- The dying-and-reviving god is a religious paradigm involving a deity who dies and returns to life for the good of the people. Among the earliest such figures is Osiris of ancient Egypt, and the best known is Jesus Christ.
What was the purpose of ancient religious festivals?
- Ancient religious festivals honored a specific god, spirits, or one’s ancestors, and served the purpose of uniting the people in a common belief system, as well as giving them the opportunity to celebrate the positive aspects of their lives.
What is the oldest religious festival still happening today?
- The oldest religious festival still observed today is Nowruz, the Persian New Year’s celebration, though the Hindu festival of Diwali is also a contender for that title. The first religious holiday to appear in the historical record is Akitu, the Babylonian New Year’s Festival, which developed from the celebration of Zagmuk of ancient Sumer.
Add External Link
External Links
14 Oldest Greek Gods - Oldest.org
www.oldest.org
James Frazer & the Dying God | Neo-Paganism
neo-paganism.org
10 Oldest Religions in the World
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
