In other words, the dance of Shiva is the signifier of cosmic activity envisaged in five aspects (pancakritya): srishti or creation, sthiti or maintenance, samhara or destruction, tirobhava or disappearance/concealment and anugraha or grace. In fact, the pancakshara (five syllables) in Shiva’s name – na-ma-shi-va-ya, are themselves seen as representing this five-fold creative activity of the God.
