For a curated list of 12 primary Karanas in a printable PDF (as a starting point), many yoga teacher training schools offer a free "Shiva Dancer's Primer." Check the resource box below or sign up for our newsletter to receive a limited 12-Pose Shiva Vinyasa Flow PDF crafted from the original 108.
: Finally, they sent the demon dwarf Muyalaka (symbolizing ignorance and ego). Shiva stepped on the dwarf's back, pinning him to the ground, and began his magnificent dance.
: While the poses date back nearly 2,000 years, they were standardized in their most recognizable form through bronze sculptures during the Chola period (around the 10th century). Key Locations and Displays
While the most iconic image of Shiva is the (the pose with one leg raised and four arms), there are 107 other distinct transitions recorded in classical tradition.
108 poses of Shiva , known as , represent the foundational units of movement in classical Indian dance. These poses are famously detailed in the ancient Sanskrit treatise on performing arts, the Natya Shastra Origin and Definition The Natya Shastra : The 108 Karanas are discussed in the 4th chapter, Tandava Lakshana : It is believed that
The 108 Karanas are most famously immortalized in the (gateway towers) of South Indian temples. Key locations where all 108 poses can be viewed include:
(Lord of the Dance), Shiva embodies five essential cosmic functions ( panchakritya ResearchGate Srishti (Creation): Represented by the (drum) in the upper right hand. Sthiti (Preservation): Represented by the Abhaya Mudra (fear-not gesture) of the lower right hand. Samhara (Destruction): Represented by the (fire) held in the upper left hand. Tirobhava (Illusion/Concealment): Represented by the right foot crushing the dwarf , who symbolizes spiritual ignorance. Anugraha (Liberation):