Sage Tirumular in his Tirumantiram identifies the five gestures (mudras) or bodily movements of the dancing Śiva with the Śaivite pañcākṣara-pañcakrtya-mahāmantra (Si-Va-Ya-Na-Ma). This philosophy is visualized in the Ānanda-Tāṇḍava-Sadānrttamūrti of Śiva as Natarāja. It explains Hara's (Śiva's) drum of creation (Śrṣṭi), hand of protection (Sthiti), fire of dissolution (Saṃhāra), foot of obfuscation/veiling (Tirodhāna) and foot of grace/blessing (Anugraha). The lecture explores the relation between the sacred word, body and dance of Śiva and the expression of his "play" in the form of dance.
