“This hydration ceremony, called Abhishekam, is a very powerful one because you are making the statue come alive by pouring over it a lot of substances, like milk, yoghurt, ghee (clarified butter), and orange juice. It is a science, not just a superstition where you pour all these things on a statue. Once these statues come alive, you can put your prayers to the statue (which is no longer a statue but a living God) and easily connect with the higher consciousness.” – Dr. Pillai, Founder of AstroVed

Shiva as Nataraja, the Archetype of Higher Consciousness

The divine dance of Shiva as Nataraja is referred to as the “Cosmic Dance of Bliss,” or the Ananda Tandava. Six times a year, the energy of Nataraja becomes active on the Earth plane. It is important to perform Nataraja Abhishekam on these auspicious days to honor and invite this transformational energy of Shiva into our lives.

Significance of Shiva’s Cosmic Dance

The dynamic energy of Nataraja can eradicate old, negative patterns limiting our potential. The gestures of his cosmic dance represent Lord Shiva’s five divine activities:

• Creation
• Protection
• Destruction
• Embodiment
• Release
• The upper hands of Shiva hold the symbols of creation and destruction
  • The small drum in the upper right hand signifies the creation or origination of sound
  • Fire in the upper left hand symbolizes destruction
• Abhaya mudra (blessing sign) of his second right hand indicates fearlessness and protection from both evil and ignorance for those who do justice and follow righteousness
• The second left hand points towards the raised foot, which is an indication of upliftment and salvation
• Nataraja dancing on a demon symbolizes Shiva’s victory over ignorance

Six Seasons in a Year for Nataraja Abhishekam

Nataraja Abhishekam is performed one time per season in a year- early winter, late winter, early summer, high summer, as well as during the rainy and autumn seasons (six seasons).

According to Vedic texts, a year of six seasons for a human is equivalent to one day for the celestial beings. On the auspicious day of July 10, you can connect with the grace of Lord Nataraja by participating in the Abhishekam, or hydration ritual, to resolve life problems.

Shiva as the Dissolver of Bad Karma

Shiva is the Archetype who removes the bad karma of all people in the world. Pradosham is a special time window where Shiva’s karma-removal energy is at its peak power. Pradosham rituals are a Vedic technology to help you access Shiva’s transformational energy at the right time, using the right rituals that target his blessings and Grace.

The Sun is your soul and your inner strength. Participating in the Pradosham ritual is an opportunity to break free from the negative patterns limiting your soul’s energy. Tap into the energies of Surya, or Sun Pradosham to give a boost to your inner strength on July 17 and July 31 when you can invoke archetype Shiva’s grace to dissolve the negative karmic limitations dimming your brilliance.