The Tandavi dance is a very good exercise for
women to transfer lower energies to higher ones.
As with the Tandava (Tantava) for men, it
symbolizes the cosmic dance of creation, or the
dance of struggle between life and death
(traditionally the Tandava was performed while
holding a knife or torch in the right hand,
symbolizing life, and a skull or snake in the left
hand, symbolizing death, with the individual dancing
between the two).
Tandavi is recommended for
women, and Tandava is recommended for men
(in fact women should not perform the Tandava as it
has a testosterone-creating effect). More
information about both these dances can be found in
Golden Keys 7
(search for "Tandava" or "Tandavi"). Also see
this video on YouTube (the section on Tandava/Tandavi
starts at about minute 50:55).
Tandavi is only recommended for women after marriage. It
helps to develop Grace and strengthens many muscles,
such as the pelvic floor muscles which can become
weak after childbirth as well as other muscles around
the pelvic area.
The Tandavi also has many other physical, mental, and
Spiritual benefits.
How to Dance the Tandavi
Tandavi is demonstrated in the
below video, and step by step instructions follow.
Note: The
demonstrator in this video is not an expert dancer,
so this can be seen as how to dance the Tandavi at a
more basic level (as the dance is for all women and
should be adapted to the skill, circumstances,
abilities, etc. of each). We plan to release various
demonstrations at different skill levels, once we
are able to. If you would like to volunteer to
demonstrate the Tandavi,
let us know!
Tandavi starts by standing up straight, with
legs shoulder width apart, and hands in the
Sal-Om position.
Open your arms straight out to the sides
while your hands assume the mudra position where
your index fingers are touching your thumbs,
palms either down or up (up if you are
holding
something in your hands while dancing, such as
if you wish to actually hold the symbolic
knife/torch and skull/snake of the dance).
Shift your weight to your left leg so you
can begin to lift up your right leg up in front of
you in a bent position (as if you were assuming
a cross-legged pose with only your right leg). Try to lift your right foot as high as you
can, with the intention of touching your right
heel to
your left shoulder. (It is not necessary
to actually touch your shoulder.) While bringing your foot
toward your shoulder, tighten the muscles of the
sexual organ (similar to Kegel exercises) as
well as the core (abdomen) and pelvic floor (use
these muscles to pull your leg as high as
possible). By doing this (tightening all parts
of the core, pelvis, and sexual organ as you
lift your leg), you will greatly strengthen
these parts of your body.
At the same time, the
right hand and arm also moves, following the
motion of the right foot and leg. If your palm
was originally turned downwards (previous step),
allow it to gracefully shift to being turned
upwards by the end of the movement.
While doing
all this, rise up on to the toes of your left
foot. At the end of the movement, perform a
final, extra squeezing of all the muscles and
rising as high as possible on the toes of your left
foot.
All of this should be done in a slow,
deliberate, and controlled manner.
Return your right leg and arm to their
original positions, shift your weight to your
right leg, and repeat these movements using the
left leg and arm.
Repeat these two steps until you no longer can
continue in a controlled manner (with good
form). Even when you think you are done, try
doing it a few more times!
Also, align the HOSH mantra
with these movements. With the movement of the
first leg and arm, repeat "Haree Om"; with the
second, "Shrii
Hung"; with the third, "Om Nam"; and with the
fourth, "Kevalam"; etc.
Note: Do not twist the pelvis at any point – the
entire body should remain pointing straight forward as
much as possible during the dance.
Upon finishing, you will be breathless, so it is
recommended to meditate afterwards.
Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs)
Below are some questions asked by disciples about
the Tandavi, with answers by Maitreya
in red:
Can men perform the Tandavi and benefit
from it, or should only women perform it (as
only men should perform the Tandava)?
Men are not recommended to
perform Tandavi as it might decrease the level
of testosterone in their bodies.
Is there a relationship between the Tandavi
and estrogen (as there is between Tandava and
testosterone)?
Yes, Tandavi is Tandava
without creating any testosterone in the body of
the dancer (woman). It indeed promotes more
feminine hormones (estrogen, which refers to a
group of hormones). That is why it make women
more graceful. It also strengthens the muscles
of the female sexual organ, which has many
benefits!
At what age is the best for a woman to begin
dancing the Tandavi (12, 18, or ...)?
After marriage when virginity
is lost. Before this time it might strengthen
the hymen and create more pain for women and
possibly problems in couples' sexual
relationships!
May children - girls - imitate their mother
when she does Tandavi and it will be an
automatic start, transition to train by self..?
Children might learn the dance
but are not recommended to practice it regularly
(for the same reason as above).
Is there an age you should stop performing
Tandavi, or can it be done for the whole life?
It can be practiced for the
whole life after you start doing it. Any
exercise in any age, as far as it is not
overdone, is good (God).
Can Tandavi help with transition (menopause)?
Yes, as any exercise (or
innercise) will help, Tandavi will help even in
a greater degree. It indeed affects the hormones
and brings great balance in the body and so
menopause can be handled and tolerated much
better.
If you have a question about Tandavi that has not
been answered here (and you cannot find the answer
elsewhere on the website),
send it to us.
