whole universe
"When one era/age ends, Shiva swoops in and performs the Tandav, which in turn produces fire (agni) to destroy the old [universe] and usher in a new world. The Tandav is therefore a significant component in the universe cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
The Tandav dance that Shiva performs is one that requires careful timing and precision. Done too early or late, and the entire balance of the universe could be disrupted. This was evident when Shiva forgot himself and performed the dance too early, which almost led to catastrophic consequences for the universe.
As the god of time and creation, he is believed to destroy the universe every 2,160,000,000 years. After the old universe is destroyed, a new one sprouts up; thereby, ushering in a new cycle. On the other hand, he is believed to create the new universe by drumming a drum called damaru."
"If it is unseemly to praise You when ignorant of the extent of’ Your greatness, then even the praises of [the god of Creation] and others are inadequate. If no one can be blamed when they praise You according to their intellectual powers, then my attempt to compose a hymn cannot be reproached."
"O Lord of gods! Can the worlds be without origin, though they have bodies? Is their creation possible without a creator? Who else but God can initiate the creation of the worlds? Because they are fools they raise doubts about Your existence. "
"O Destroyer of the demon Pura, some say that the whole universe is eternal while others say that all is transitory. Others still hold that it is eternal and non-eternal — having different characteristics. Bewildered by all this, I do not feel ashamed to praise You; indeed my loquacity is an indication of my boldness. "
When You danced to save the world, the earth was suddenly thrown into a precarious state at the striking of Your feet; the spatial regions and the hosts of stars felt oppressed by the movement of Your massive club-like arms, and the heavens became miserable as their sides were constantly struck by Your waving matted hair. Indeed it is Your very mightiness which is the cause of the trouble. || 16 ||
The river which pervades the sky ["milky way"] and whose foam crests look all the more beautiful because of stars and planets, seems no more than a drop of water when on Your head. That same river has turned the world into islands surrounded by waters. From this can be judged vastness of Your divine body. || 17 ||
When You wanted to burn the three cities of the demons – which were but a piece of straw to You–the earth was Your chariot, Brahma Your charioteer, the great mountain Meru Your bow, the sun and the moon the wheels of Your chariot, Vishnu Your arrow. Why all this paraphernalia? The Lord is not dependent on others. He was only playing with things at His command. || 18 ||
THEY WORSHIP "SHIVA" THINKING HE WILL REWARD THEIR SACRIFICE WITH BOONS
Ingnorant, they are it BOOMS not BOONS