The Dance of Shiva is a collection of fourteen Indian essays written by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy. These essays examine the art, dance, music, philosophy, religion, and other aspects of the civilization of India. The purpose of Coomaraswamy’s book is to show the power of India’s soul, to show all the riches that it holds Stored up, with which to ennoble and render happy the human race. In these interesting essays, the vast and tranquil metaphysic of India is unfolded; her conception of the universe, her social organisation, perfect in its day and Still capable of adaptation to the demands of modern times; the solution which she offers for the feminist problem, for the problems of the family, of love, of marriage; and lastly, the magnificent revelation of her art. This present edition has been freshly recomposed with the main objective to provide a better printed text to the readers.

Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was a pioneering art historian and philosopher of Indian art who was an early interpreter of Indian culture to the West. His publications form an important contribution to Indian art.