Nataraja is the name of the dancing Paramesvara. Nata is a member of a troupe which also consists of the vita and gayaka The nata ances. Nataraja is the king of all dancers-- he who cannot be excelled as adancer-- and he is also called Mahanata [the great dancer]. The Amarakosa, the Sanskrit lexicon, has these two words: Mahakalo mahanatah. Continue Reading...