Jamshedpur, Oct. 16: Indian mythology says an angry Lord Shiva performed the Tandava dance to destroy the universe. Circa 2005, spiritual leaders say the ancient form of dance can cure all mental ailments.

Senior seers of Ananda Marga Pracharaka Sangha, a socio-spiritual organisation, claim the popular dance, which Lord Shiva performs with a skull and a dagger in his hands, has powers to overcome even permanent brain problems.

Acharya Purnadevananda, who is a Tandava expert, said: ?A Tandava artiste dances on his toes whose nerves are connected to his brains. Frequent pressure on the toes while dancing also exercises the brains, which can cure mental ailments.?

He said that while performing the dance, there is secretion of two kinds of hormones from the pineal ? melatonin and seratonin.

?The secretion of melatonin brings peace of mind, while seratonin activates the functions of the brain. The discharge of these two hormones can cure someone suffering from mental disorders,? Purnadevananda told The Telegraph.

However, he warned that the Tandava should not be performed by women, as the secretion of the two hormones could lead to the growth of tiny hairs on their faces like those on adult men?s.

On the occasion of Dharm Maha Sammelan, over 400 seers from different parts of the country had congregated in Sonari for a two-day function to propagate the preaching of Lord Ananda Murtijee who founded the sangha at Jamalpur village of Bihar a few decades ago. Ananda Marga is based on ?Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam?, a principle of universal brotherhood across the globe.

About the curative aspect of the Tandava, Purnadevananda said if an individual regularly performed Tandava for a month, his mental disorders could be cured.

?A few seers here used to face mental disorders, but after practising the dance, they overcame the mental problems. There are many other examples in India and abroad where mental patients have overcome their problems,? Purnadevananda, who is also the relief secretary of sangha in Eastern India, said.

According to neurosurgeon of Tata Main Hospital, A.K. Mishra, performing Tandava dance can cure minor mental problems. ?But for major mental ailments, one has to seek clinical treatment, as there are no alternatives to proper medication,? the doctor added.

The national chief of Ananda Marga Pracharaka Sangha Acharya Shradhanand Avdhuta said Lord Shiva performed the Tandava to destroy the universe. But allegorically speaking, it was meant to break the monotony of stagnant life, he added.

?The God was holding a dagger with one hand and skull with other hand. The former signifies the victory while the latter reflects the death. And the message for world is victory over the death,? Avdhuta said.

He added that the followers of Ananda Marga Pracharak Sangha from time to time perform the Tandava dance in various parts of the globe and educate the people about the positive aspects of dance.

?The dance energies the functioning of brain and other body parts. And the dancer experiences these feelings,? the chief of Sangha said.

Aiming to educate the people, many of the seers performed dance in front of spectators and followers of the socio-spiritual organisation in the city.