The Comparative Study of "Shiva" Dance and "Sufi Whirling" Dance*

Art in traditional, religious and ritual cultures is a suitable context for manifestation of theosophical (mystical), spiritual and narrative implications, thereby researching these artworks can lead us to the exploration of encoded content will and perception of symbolic meanings. The symbolic expression in ritual dances is one of the most important branches of art studies that can be researched from sociological, religious and theosophical aspects generally as cultural studies, aesthetic characteristics and the contents of artworks. Ritual dances are among the most attractive areas containing mystical, religious and narrative concepts in addition to having aesthetic aspects of movement forms which could be realized in consecution of time and space. They are formed based on different civilizations and mystical knowledge or narrative themes, mythology and history which, in some instances comprise similar meanings as it seems the same meaning is expressed in two or more forms. The important thing here is the presence of diversity in forms of shapes and aesthetic aspects of expression to manifest the meaning. Art, as the most beautiful form of expression could provide the greatest appearance for manifestation of meaning and the intention of artist. Most of the religious, sacred and traditional art due to the dominancy of content over appearance, have found symbolic and mystic expression; these symbolic characteristics, per se does not resemble art symbols but beyond this, the symbolic features must convey artistic concepts not only in gestures and movements but also in writing as well. The conceptual function of these symbolic and metaphoric features in form and appearance is considered merely as a subordinate affair, otherwise the intention and purpose of the artist could not be emerged at higher and transcendental level. This rule applies in all areas of the arts, especially dance and music. The Shiva dance in India and the Sufi whirling dance among the followers, comprise a set of movements with aesthetics features both arisen from their equilibrium with nature, as these two dances in from and shape are categorized as cosmic dances so that the mystical concepts are associated with their contents, although in terms of appearance they are quite apart from each other. This article is based on the premise that such a ritual dances as Shiva Dance and Sufi whirling dance despite appearing in different times and places and having distinct characteristic features in appearance both express a common fact and reality which represent symbolic and mystic characteristics with conceptual and celestial contents.