Author: Ram Krishnamani Date: January 8, 2025
Narrated by Shantha Lakshmi
The Cosmic Dance at CERN: Bridging Mythology and Modern Science
The Cosmic Dance at CERN stands as a profound symbol of the convergence between ancient mythology and contemporary science, encapsulating humanity’s timeless quest to understand the universe. This connection is beautifully embodied in the statue of Nataraja, the dancing form of Lord Shiva, prominently displayed at CERN’s entrance. Gifted by India, the statue represents Shiva’s cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction—an allegory of the eternal rhythms that govern existence, from the vastness of galaxies to the tiniest subatomic particles.
On July 4, 2012, CERN announced the monumental discovery of the Higgs boson, also referred to as the “God Particle.” This discovery confirmed the Standard Model of particle physics, explaining how particles acquire mass, a cornerstone of our understanding of the physical universe. The presence of Nataraja’s statue at CERN links this groundbreaking achievement to the timeless wisdom of ancient Indian philosophy, which similarly explores the interconnectedness of all things.
Physicist and author Fritjof Capra, in his celebrated work The Tao of Physics, was among the first to draw parallels between Shiva’s dance and the behavior of subatomic particles. Just as Nataraja’s dance symbolizes the dynamic interplay of creation and destruction, so too does the quantum world, where particles emerge, interact, and dissolve in an endless cycle of motion and transformation.
The statue serves as more than an aesthetic addition; it is a poignant reminder of the shared aspirations of science and spirituality. It highlights the universal rhythms that underpin both ancient metaphysical concepts and modern scientific discoveries. By placing Nataraja at the forefront of the world’s leading particle physics laboratory
