Significance of – Lalit Ma’rmik Nritya, Kao’shikii, and Ta’ndava : Co-authored by Avtk. A’nand Prabha’ A’c, Meera Singh, Meetu Singh

This article is written to explain the benefits i.e., physical, mental and spiritual; of above dance forms, However, their mudras are described in brief due to space constraint. It is further advisable to learn these forms from your own Aca’rya’.

Significance Of Lalit Marmik Nritya

Lalit marmik is a completely spiritual dance. It was invented by Goddess Parvati- spouse of Lord Shiva. This dance arouses the deepest feeling of love & Devotion. A practitioner may get samadhi also. Caetanya Mahaprabhu is the best example, who got different kinds of Samadhi through this dance.  This dance dissolves the ego of sadhaka & prepares the mind for meditation. So it is said, sadhana sahayakam Baba nam kevalam. We apply it during kiirtan. We should know what  the significance of Lalit Marmik dance is. What should be the position of our legs & hands. It is very clearly explained.

According to Indo- Aryan when the different parts of body moves a certain special technique or sound occurs.

Bábá Náma Kevalam

This aśt́ákśarii [octo-syllabic] kiirtana mantra has been consecrated and infused with tremendous power. Any individual – no matter what alleged caste, religion, community, colour or country the person may claim to belong to – if the person sings kiirtana, he or she will be benefited. At the same time, society will also be benefited.

So, also when we do kiirtan the movement of legs & hands is important. The toes or toes tip is related to the sound- “Dhae”, the ball of foot is related to the sound- “Dhin”, & the heel of the foot to the sound “Ta'”. The Toes or toe tip is called Dhae. We should touch the earth with the Dhae portion. Dhae means spiritual touch. Dhin means the physical touch & Ta’ means physical touch. Generally when  Ta’ portion touches the ground, the maximum strength, maximum weight of the body fall on. According to Shrii Shrii Anandmurtijii, you are on this earth. You are to do all worldly duties, psychic duties, & spiritual duties but your pressure on earth should be minimum. You should give least pressure on the earth, so that the earth may not think you are a liability to the earth. Be an asset. So, by touching the the earth with toe tip, you can give minimum pressure to earth. That’s why while doing kiirtan you are to touch the earth with Dhae portion. Actually both Kaoshikii & Tandava are more physical exercise, useful to the body than they are form of dance.

In Kaoshikii these three ( Dhae, Dhin & Ta’) are utilized in some extent, but in Tandava Ta’ is  utilized more than Dhin & Dhae is not being utilized at all. So, in Lalit Marmik Dhae should be utilized more for spiritual progress.  As Kaoshikii is a physio – Psychic dance. But in Tandav we use Ta’ portion maximum as Tandava is a physio- psycho- spiritual dance.

What should be the hand position? Generally downward position is the natural physical position of hand. In normal condition we remain in this position. It is the most natural physical position. But when we raise our hand up to 90 degrees to do something, we utilize our psychic strength. For an example when teacher says raise your hand, we raise our hands with our mental strength only. Mind likes it. That’s why it is raised. It means to raise hands upto 90 degree is the mental strength.

But while we do kiirtan, Lalit marmik what should be our hand position? That time we don’t use our mental power but psycho- spiritual power. So, in psycho- spiritual approach, this angle must be more than 90 degrees. This shows that your hands are now at the mercy of Parama Purus’a. It is not at all your psychic power. This is the complete surrender.

Kiirtana has the following benefits.

1) It is Sádhaná saháyakam, that is, it helps in performing spiritual practices like meditation. If after singing kiirtana, spiritual practice is done, spiritual aspirants truly progress in their meditation.

2) Adversities in collective life are removed. This is why it is said, Sámuhika bádhá vidúrakam.

3) If the lalita mármika dance [the dance which touches the core of the heart] is performed along with kiirtana, then benefits in the three spheres, physical, mental and spiritual, are obtained.

For instance,

1. a) Vátrogvidurakam, that is, kiirtana heals gout and rheumatism.
2. b) It enhances longevity. For this reason, kiirtana is said to be áyuvardhakam.
3. c) It dispels worries, fears, doubts, etc. in the psychic sphere. So kiirtana is called cintavidurakam.
4. d) In the spiritual sphere it is Aánandadáyakam, that is, kiirtana bestows divine bliss.

We should remember the importance of spirituality and bear in mind that Avarta kiirtan is good to practice in our day to day life to develop a more direct link with Param purusa & have His grace. This is a very easy way to experience spiritual bliss. Kiirtan will always remind You that you are the affectionate children of the Supreme. In kiirtan, there is no restriction regarding time, place or person, no distinction between educated & uneducated, between black & white. So do kiirtan, sing kiirtan, chant kiirtan whenever and wherever possible.

Significance of “Kao’shikii” – A physico-spiritual Niritya

Kaoshiiki, as propounded by Shree Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, is a holistic system aimed at promoting physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. The term “Kaoshikii” combines two Sanskrit words: “Kaosha” meaning sheath, and “Shiiki” meaning the cultivation or movement. Together, they represent a practice that encompasses various dimensions of human existence.

This yogic dance is not merely a performance but a transformative journey. Practitioners engage in Kaoshiiki to align their energies, purify the mind, and elevate consciousness. The rhythmic patterns and sequences are designed to awaken dormant spiritual forces and channel them through the physical body, creating a profound union of the individual soul with the universal spirit.

Kaoshiiki transcends cultural boundaries, inviting individuals to explore the depths of their being through the medium of dance. It is a celebration of life’s divine rhythm, a meditative art form that invites participants to immerse themselves in the cosmic dance of existence. In the quiet whispers of each movement, Kaoshiiki whispers the timeless wisdom of yoga, inviting practitioners to dance their way into the realms of inner bliss and self-discovery.

Physical Well-being:

Kaoshiiki emphasizes physical exercises that are not just for fitness but also for overall health. These exercises are designed to improve flexibility, strength, and balance. The system incorporates dynamic movements and postures that engage different muscle groups, promoting a harmonious development of the body.

Mental Clarity:

The mental aspect of Kaoshiiki involves practices that enhance concentration and mental clarity. Through systematic meditation techniques, practitioners aim to calm the mind, reduce stress, and attain a state of inner peace. This mental discipline not only improves focus but also contributes to emotional resilience.

Spiritual Growth:

Beyond the physical and mental aspects, Kaoshiiki recognizes the importance of spiritual development. It encourages individuals to explore and connect with their inner selves, fostering a sense of purpose and meaning in life. The spiritual dimension of Kaoshiiki is not tied to any particular religious doctrine but rather aims at realizing the inherent spiritual potential within each individual.

Breath and Vital Energy:

Central to Kaoshiiki is the awareness of breath and vital energy. Breath control exercises, known as pranayama, are incorporated to regulate the flow of life force within the body. This practice is believed to have a profound impact on one’s overall well-being, promoting a sense of balance and harmony.

Community and Social Harmony:

Kaoshiiki is not limited to personal development; it also places importance on community and social harmony. Practitioners are encouraged to engage in activities that contribute to the welfare of society, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and unity.

Holistic Lifestyle:

Kaoshiiki extends its principles to various aspects of life, promoting a holistic lifestyle. This includes dietary guidelines that emphasize the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet. The idea is to cultivate habits that support overall well-being, aligning physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of life.

Benefits of Kaoshikii

1. It exercises all the glands and limbs from head to foot.
2. It increases longevity.
3. It makes for easy delivery.
4. The spine will become flexible.
5. Arthritis of the spine, neck, waist and other joints will be removed.
6. Gout in the spine, neck, hands, and waist will be lost.
7. The mind becomes strong and sharp.
8. Irregularities in menstruation will be cured.
9. Glandular secretions will become regulated.
10. Troubles in the bladder and urethra will be cured.
11. It gives control over the limbs.
12. It adds charm and shines to the face and skin.
13. It removes wrinkles.
14. It removes lethargy.
15. It cures insomnia.
16. It cures hysteria.
17. Fear complexes will be removed.
18. Hopelessness will be lost.
19. It helps in self-expression and develops one’s potentiality.
20. Spinal pain, piles, hernia, hydrocele in men, nervous pain, and nervous disability will be cured.
21. It cures kidney and gall bladder troubles, gastric trouble, dyspepsia, acidity, dysentery, syphilis, gonorrhoea, obesity, thinness, and liver diseases.
22. It increases the capacity to work until 75-80 years of age.

In conclusion, Kaoshiiki, as propounded by Shree Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, offers a comprehensive approach to human well-being. It goes beyond mere physical exercises, incorporating mental, spiritual, and social dimensions. By embracing the principles of Kaoshiiki, individuals are encouraged to lead a balanced and purposeful life, fostering not only their own growth but also contributing positively to the well-being of the community.

Significance of Tandava

Even before Sadashiva, who lived seven thousand years ago, there was dance, music and song, but all these were in a disorderly and random manner. The dexterous hands of Sadashiva made dance into a science, rather an articulate science, an art form. For this reason Sadashiva was also called ‘Nataraja’, which means ‘king of the dancers’. Sadashiva invested the world of rhythm with mudra: subtle, symbolic gestures that are characteristic of Oriental dance. Shiva had observed that, in the bodies of various creatures, the various glands were either over-active or under-active, either over-secreting or under-secreting in various conditions of being. As a result these creatures expressed themselves in various ways. After researching all these factors Shiva invented thousands of mudras, particular postures which affect certain human glands in a particular way, and thus influences people’s minds accordingly. One unique, and perfect, dance that Shiva invented was tandava. In the Sámskrata (Sanskrit) language ‘tandu’ means ‘jumping’, so ‘tandava’ means ‘a kind of dance where jumping is the dominant feature’. As long as the dancer is off the ground he derives much benefit; when he touches the ground, then those benefits are assimilated by the body. This dance is not only beneficial for the body, it also develops the mind and leads to spiritual elevation. Tandava expresses the power of life overcoming the powers of death, fear and ignorance. For this reason the dancer should hold in his left hand either a skull (with the middle finger extending into the cranium from below), or a poisonous snake, or if at night time a burning fire-torch – or replicas of such, all these represent fear and/or death. The right hand holds a sword, knife or staff, all these symbolizing discrimination – mental ability to determine right and wrong – the weapon against ignorance. Tandava may be done by many people at a time.

There are three variations of increasing difficulty:

1. When the knees cross the navel it is called Brahma Tandava.
2. If the knees cross the center of the chest (Anahata Cakra), it is called Vishnu Tandava.
3. When the knees cross the center of the neck (Vishuddha Cakra), it is called Rudra Tandava. This dance is not recommended for females, due to stimulation of certain glands and secretion of hormones.

Tandava gives a feeling of beautiful clarity and inner peace.  By transmuting negative vibration, it helps to overcome the worst internal enemies – fear and death.  Tandava also exercises the brain physically and improves memory. Tandava strengthens the anahata cakra (fourth chakra/psychic centre of the human body and mind) and energizes all the body systems, giving health and longevity.  Collective tandava is very exciting!  When the set of tandava is finished, kiirtan is danced with singing/chanting for a short period of time to relax, and both dancers and chanters can do a few minutes of collective meditation.

Co-authored by Avtk. A’nand Prabha’ A’c, Meera Singh, Meetu Singh