SHIVA - THE COSMIC DANCER

SOMASKANDA   SOMASKANDA panel behind the lingam inside the Garbhgriha in a temple inside the tiger caves in Mahabalipuram. The panel primarily consists Shiva & Parvathi in a sitting posture, with the baby Skanda dancing in between them in the same pedestal. The Somaskanda panel in itself is a relief from the period of the Pallava's who ruled from the 5th to 8th century CE. The Somaskanda panels are found in many temples and caves in Mahabalipuram & Kanchipuram as backdrop of the Garbhgriha. From the Pallava's the tradition was carried out by the Chola's who later built these Somaskanda Idols in metal as the Utsavabera's & which subsequently gave rise to the cult of Thyagaraja in Tiruvarur and many other temples.

  THYAGARAJA THE CULT - CONCEPT Thyagaraja is a combination of three deities including SHIVA, his consort PARVATHI and one of their sons SKANDA as a baby in a composite image. The iconic representation of Thyagaraja is known as “SOMASKANDA”. Somaskanda though being a Sanskrit name is a part of a unique Tamil concept and are not present in the north Indian Siva Temples. When separate shrines are given for the Utsavabera or Utsavamurthy of Somaskanda( As in the case of Thyagaraja at Tiruvarur), they are called Thyagaraja. Hence we can always say Thyagaraja images are that of Somaskanda, however all Somaskanda images need not be Thyagaraja. The Thyagaraja iconography as per the Hindu scriptures is SA (Sahita or with) UMA & SKANDA. TYAGARAJA THE LEGEND Mahavishnu prayed to Mahadev for a Progeny at Tiruvarur. Pleased with him Shiva blessed him with a male child Kaama(Manmatha). For ignoring her in his prayers, Parvathi cursed Mahavishnu that his child Kaama would be burnt to death by Sh