Shiva Figure

This paper addresses the context and significance of a cast bronze Hindu God Shiva figure. Shiva takes many forms, but this specific Shiva figure is depicted as “Lord of the Dance” or Nataraja. The piece originates from the Tamil Nadu region of South India during the reign of the Chola dynasty in the 1100’s. The artist and the specific origin of the artwork are unknown, as is the case for almost all cast bronze pieces of its nature. Like most medieval art, this piece was made for religious purposes. It was not made for an individual, but for the use of Hindu devotees in general.

Of the three preeminent Hindu gods, Shiva is the destroyer along with Brahma, the creator, and Vishnu, the preserver. In Hindu religious philosophy all things

The symbols all revolve around the motif of Shiva’s dance simultaneously destroying and re-creating the world. As the Lord of the Dance, Natajara, Shiva performs the tandava dance where the universe is created, maintained and destroyed. Shiva’s long, matted dreads are usually tied up in a knot, but in the intensity of the dance, they loosen and smash into heavenly bodies, knocking them off course or destroying them. (3,1) A small, personified image of the Ganges River sits in Shiva’s streaming hair. Shiva is said to have broken the fall of the Ganges torrents, creating the seven holy rivers of India as the water divided over his long locks of hair. (4,1) The ring of fire surrounding Shiva signifies the manifest universe and the eternal cyclical nature of existence —destruction and creation, death and rebirth. Shiva is represented with many arms symbolizing his superhuman powers as a Hindu deity. The upper right hand holds a small drum called a damaru in Sanskrit. The universe is created to the beat of this drum and the beat itself symbolizes the passage of time. The upper left hand holds Agni or fire, which represents destruction. This flame sparks the destruction of the universe and eventually burns all matter to ashes in preparation for a new creation. The opposing symbols in the upper hands shows the balance of creation and destruction. (4) The lower right hand shows the Abhaya (fearlessness) mudra. This

In order to better understand images of deities, Hindus use temples, each dedicated to at least one of their many gods. As one of the most important gods in Hinduism, temples built to worship Shiva are scattered all over India. This specific bronze casting was made, along with countless others, to be placed inside of a temple so it could be worshipped and venerated. For purposes of worship, statues and figures of the deities are kept in a very sacred place within the temple. In addition to temple worship, people hold festivals for each god to ensure its continued blessing. These festivals include a parade in which the deity’s statue is dressed, decorated and carried on a special canopied platform. Shiva Nataraja, specifically, may have had its legs wrapped with a white and red cloth, adorned with flowers, and surrounded by candles.