Nataraja by S.R. Dongerkery is one of the finest poems on Nataraja. The poem has been taken from his book of poems named The Ivory Tower published in 1943. S.R. Dongerkery was an educationist of note and was the Vice Chancellor of Marathwada University.

Nataraja is the God of Dance, a symbol of cosmic and creative force. We the people do not know the significance of the art, the sculpture cast in as an artistic replica.

The universe is sustained by the dance of His. The pose, posture is symbolic of the cosmic rhythm with which world has been created, reared and up kept holding the law.

The posture is balanced with rhythmic pose and posture. The right foot is for curbing the ugly thoughts that crowd the mind. The left is swung up as for seeking pleasure.  

Does Nataraja do it as for purging the earthly substances? Is it a symbol of the soul? What does the art-symbol mean it? How the mind and spirit of the dancer, not the earthly, but the Divine Dancer, the Classical Dancer?

Just we see the art-symbol as we know it not. How the pose and posture of the Nataraja? Why is He Nataraja? What it the source of His delight?

The poem is one of historiography, museum and archival studies; art history and archaeology.

O god of dance, true symbol Thou
Of cosmic and creative force!
We, puny men, still know not how,
Or where, to trace thy hidden source.

The universe by thee sustained
With rhythmic motion of thy dance,
By laws harmoniously enchained,
Could not have sprung from whim or chance.

Is thy right foot pressed down to curb
The ugly thoughts that crowd the mind,
And does thy left, in pose superb,
The dancer’s pleasure seek to find?

Dost thou proclaim the joy of life
That flows in the graceful lines and curves
Of thy own image, free from strife
That racks men’s minds and strains their nerves?

Or art thou a symbol of the soul
That spurns the earth, its sordid things,
On sighting high its shining goal,
And dances on ethereal wings?

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