The Dance of Shiva

The essential significance of Shiva's dance is threefold: first, it is the image of his rhythmic play as the source of all movement within the cosmos... ; secondly, the purpose of his dance is to release the countless souls of men from the snare of illusion; thirdly, the place of the dance, Chidambaram, the centre of the universe, is within the heart.

The Dance of Shiva, Ananda K. Coomaraswamy

This morning, a cold and beautiful December day, whilst admiring the great bronze statue of Siobha (Shiva) in an antechamber of the Museum of Religious Life and Art, I overhear (how can you not?) an American couple wandering around:

‘Okay, we got one more room to do and then we’re outa here…’

(3 seconds later)

‘…okay, we’re done’.


Siobha smiles at me, and does a little dance. Bangs her drum 5 times:

Creation

Preservation

Destruction

Embodiment

Release of the Soul from Illusion…

…okay, we’re done.

The Museum of Religious Life & Art in Glasgow's old town is a wonderful place to spend a slow afternoon. For me, the great statue of Shiva is the highlight, that and the bronze statue of the boddhisattva Avalokiteshvara aka. Guanyin, the Compassionate One, 'The One who Hears the Cries and Sorrows of the World', (there is another wonderful statue of her in the Burrell Collection in Pollok Country Park). But there are many exquisite pieces, from all across the planet. The gallery of costumes and rituals of Amerindian peoples is particularly interesting as is the Islamic and Persian art. There is a sublime view from the second floor window onto the Necropolis (Glasgow's Pere Lachaise) opposite which of course is always worth exploring if only for the architecture and wide-ranging views across the city. Outside, past the quiet little Zen garden (see my post Where We Are), Glasgow Cathedral stands opposite, the original site where Kentigern (Mungo) set up his first church when he stopped here some 1400 years ago. Down in the crypt, amongst the forest of pillars, is Mungo's tomb draped in damask and surrounded by candlelight. It is quite an experience!

Deathwatch. (Looking from the museum's second floor across to the necropolis). [Incidentally, the title Deathwatch is a reference to Bertrand Tavernier's 1980 film La Mort en Direct with Harvey Keitel which had its looming crane opening shot up there on the top of the necropolis. The rest of the film shows a sooty grimy depressing Glasgow of old. The city positively sparkles now! (or maybe it's just me ;)