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Whether sitting or standing, in stillness or in motion, we can hold the intention - the invitation - for the union of Shiva and Shakti, uniting the 'Earth energy' with the 'Sky energy', Grounding and opening to Inspiration - to Infinite Consciousness.
In the 'transcendentalist' approach of some ancient lines of Yoga, the goal is to leave all identifications with the body, senses and temporal existence. In the integrative approach typical of a more Tantric perspective, the goal is to live the embodied Union of Shiva-Shakti, with the Infinite Consciousness dancing as Life through us. For the yogis, the intensive sadhana (spiritual practice) is usually performed in a sitting posture. In the Taoist tradition much of the practice is done standing. The Tandava dance, believed to have been based on the mudras and rituals of the Saivite tradition, contains a range of practices that may have been an early precursor of some the Taoist techniques. Daniel Odier in recent times has shared his understanding of the graceful Tandava Dance (with similarities to the Ananda-Tandava style) as received by him from his teacher Lalita Devi of the Kashmiri tradition. |
