The meaning of meaning
The ancient South Asian image, or mūrti, of Śiva as Naṭarāja – the Lord of the Dance – depicts the cosmic dance of creation, maintenance, and destruction of the universe as well as the concealment and liberation of the soul. Like all symbols, it requires interpretation. Naṭarāja is symbolic of the endless cycle of life, and no-one in their right mind sees it as anything more than a metaphor to remind us of the impermanent nature of the universe and the effects of time on our fragile human existence.