Yes. It should logically and histortically mean only Siva. For, we have an ancient verse aabout the origin of the Mahesvarasuutra-s that are the fundamental to the Sanskrit Grammar. The verse runs:
nRttaavasaane naTaraajaraajaH nanaada DhakkaaM nava pañcavaaram .
So Siva is not only NaTaraaja but naTaraajaraaja !!!
Also we find hundreds of images ... in stone , metal, etc. of NaTaraaja in all parts of the Bhaaratadesa.
The Saivasiddhanta philosophy attaches so much importance to the dance of Siva: the five divine acts (pañcakRtya)--creation, maintenance, , etc. which Siva performs are all linked with each one of the objects that naTaraaja holds and with His divine eternal dance.

Ganesan

Dr.T.Ganesan
Senior Researcher in Saivasiddhanta
French Institute of Pondicherry
UMIFRE 21 CNRS-MAEE
11, St. Louis Street
P.B. 33  PONDICHERRY-605001
INDIA
Tel: +91 - 413 - 22 31 643
E mail: ganesan@ifpindia.org
Web: www.ifpindia.org

On 03-06-2013 11:17, Valerie J Roebuck wrote:

I would think it would be Śiva, since Naṭeśa refers to him (in the form often called Naṭarāja). 'Naṭeśvara' would seem to be a logical development.

Valerie J Roebuck

Manchester, UK

On 3 Jun 2013, at 05:29, Harsha Dehejia <harshadehejia@hotmail.com> wrote:

Friends~

Does the word Nateshvar refer to Krishna or Shiva?

Regards.

Harsha V. Dehejia
Ottawa, ON., Canada.

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