Arudra Nakshatra (Thiruvathirai in Tamil) falls on Monday, January 13, marking the day when Lord Shiva first performed his cosmic dance. This makes the sighting of the star and the associated religious observances profoundly sacred for Hindus.
During the ten days culminating in Arudra Nakshatra, Thiruvempavai—a part of the Thiruvasagam composed by Saint Manikkavasagar—is recited before dawn as an offering to Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance, performed in his resplendent form as Nataraja, took place in the golden court (Kanagasabai in Tamil) at the Chidambaram Temple in India. The dance, known as Ananda Tandavam (the Dance of Bliss), symbolizes the eternal cycle of transformation, which, according to Hindu belief, is governed by Lord Shiva. The Nataraja form embodies Shiva’s five cosmic functions: creation, protection, destruction, the concealment of illusion, and liberation (emancipation).
Iconic depiction
In Bharatanatyam, the Nataraja pose represents Lord Shiva as the cosmic dancer. This pose is an iconic depiction of Shiva as the “Lord of Dance” and is one of the most revered images in Hinduism.
Lord Shiva, also known as “Mahadeva” or “the god of gods,” governs the beginning and end of everything in the universe. He is the source, sustenance, and ultimate strength. His origin is beyond human and celestial comprehension, as he is eternal.
The five-syllable Panchakshara Mantra—“Na-ma-si-va-ya”—dedicated to Lord Shiva is a testament to his universal adoration among Hindus worldwide.
Everything we appreciate, embrace, and follow should have practical value in our lives, benefiting both society and humanity. Religion is no exception. In the context of this discussion, obtaining emancipation or deliverance (moksha) from Lord Shiva is the ultimate goal for a Hindu. Indeed, it is the primary purpose of life on earth. Everything else we experience in our lifetime is incidental and transient.
Higher state
Death claims only the body, but the soul is immortal. This understanding should comfort us, for death is not the end of existence but an opportunity for the soul to transmigrate to a potentially higher state of being. Death is not shameful; living an ignoble life is. The choice, however, is ours.
The tainted soul, temporarily confined in a living body, traverses the eternal cycle of rebirth, yearning for purification and deliverance. Eventually, the purified soul reunites with its Creator. This prompts an essential question: Should we use our finite lifetime to enrich the body or the soul? Food for thought.
Hinduism teaches us to live virtuously, guided by the principles of dharma, to purify and liberate the soul. Our actions—physical and verbal—are governed by the mind. The mind is everything; what we think, we become. Yet, the deluded mind often ignores its inner consciousness, chasing fleeting pleasures instead of cultivating virtues that purify the soul and lead to eternal bliss.
Therefore, if we can control our mind, we can take control of our lives.
Arudra Nakshatra is an auspicious day—but every day in our lives can and should be equally sacred! We shouldn’t rely on a calendar or almanac to remind us of the divine. Instead, let us make each day count by touching the lives of those less fortunate than ourselves. True divinity is reflected in how we treat living beings, especially those who can offer us nothing in return.
In Hinduism, love for God must be mirrored by genuine compassion for all living beings. The divine resides in every soul; every life on this earth carries the imprint of the sacred.
Arudra Nakshatra is just one of many guiding lights in Hinduism, a philosophy that does not rely on rigid struggles or attempts to impose an exclusive doctrine as the sole path to salvation. Instead, it offers an open, pluralistic approach, encouraging a way of life where belief is nurtured through personal realization.
The virtuous way of life that Hinduism advocates begins with the state of the mind. A mind conditioned by virtue embraces compassion. Where there is compassion, there is serenity. Where there is serenity, the divine manifests. And where the divine is present, bliss follows.
V Balabaskara-President, Ganesha Hindu Temple / Ganadevi Kovilla Nugegoda