Shiva+as+Nataraja,+Lord+of+the+Dance




**Artwork Identification:**
Artist: Unknown Country: India Date: 11-12th century Period: Chola Period Height: 32 inches Medium: Bronze Museum Accession Number: NGA 2008.1 Current Location: National Gallery of Australia Provenance: National Gallery of Australia Foundation 2008 Purchase

**Introduction**
Shiva as Nataraja, is one of the most well-known sculptures in Indian art and is a famous Hindu icon. Shiva as Nataraja was made during the Chola Dynasty, which is known as one of the greatest periods in Asia for sculpture (Cosmopolis). In Hindu religion, Shiva's cosmic dance takes place at the center of the universe, where he was in the presence of the gods. This dance called, Anandatandava, promotes evolution. Shiva is often called 'Lord of the Dance' where his dance represents the cosmic cycles, such as the daily rhythm of life. The rhythm of life is exemplified by birth and death. Shiva as Nataraja depicts the duality of the inner tranquility versus the outside activity of Shiva.

**Descriptive Analysis**
Shiva as Nataraja is a bronze sculpture standing 32 inches tall. The term 'nataraja' means king of dancers. This sculpture was made during the Chola Dynasty, which was from the 9th through the 13th century. During this time in India, bronze casting became popular thanks to the generosity of it's rulers (Merchant 3). There are many other brass figures depicting Shiva as Lord of the Dance. Before these figures came to us, only privileged classes, such as monarchs and priests could view the deities. They were depicted on stones placed inside temples devoted to Shiva and Vishnu. Shiva is depicted with four arms in a graceful pose called tribhanga in Bharatanatyam, a classic form of Indian dance. Shiva dances within a ring of flames. Each flame on the ring is identical depicting repetition within the piece. This repeating patterns also helps keep harmony within the sculpture Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of Dance, is very detailed. From the peaks of the flames to the face of the dwarf underneath his right foot, the roundness is smooth whiles the lines of details are sharp. Shiva is holding a flame in his upper left hand, a drum in his upper right, and is making a gesture with each lower hand. Shiva's right foot is standing strongly upon the backside of a dwarf. The dwarf's head is turned, as if he is looking up towards Shiva. There is delicate jewelry adorning Shiva's neck, wrists and ankles. Shiva is also wearing a meticulous headdress atop his flowing locks of hair. His body appears quite realistic and his gestures are extremely delicate. His eyes lightly closed and the ever-so-slightest upward turn on his mouth suggest a very calm, peaceful attitude.

**Formal and Contextual Analysis Shiva is one of the major gods in the Hindu religion. Hindus believe Shiva to be the supreme God. Two other major gods, Vishnu and Devi, make up **
====** what Hindus believe to be the three most important gods in Hinduism, when including Shiva ( Kaimal 410 . Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of Dance, displays the delicate intricacy of sculpture, which was crafted during the Chola Dynasty. His right foot, which stands upon a dwarf, represents him rejecting darkness and ignorance. The demonic dwarf beneath his foot shows clear detail and depicts him looking upward, toward Shiva. The dwarf is holding a serpent. This serpent is also wrapped around one of Shiva's right arms and is entwined within his hair (__Lotus Sculpture)__. There is an image of the goddess Ganga in Shiva's hair. A common saying in Hindu religion is when Shiva dances it resembles the spray of the sacred River Ganges (Maxwell 42). The  **==== ====** River Ganges is a major river running through India. In the Hindu religion, the River Ganges is a very spiritual site. It is believed that King Bhageeratha brought down the River Ganges to earth, which required devout prayer and sacrifice for many years. After many disasters, due to the irresponsibility of the Kosala Kings, King Bhageeratha turned over the kingdom to honorable and trusted ministers. He then set off to the Himalayas to endure a rigorous routine of constant prayer. After years in //tapasya//, which included fasting, King Bhageeratha asked Brahma to bring down the River Ganges to earth. It is believed that Ganga came down to earth through strands of hair on Shiva (Ganges). The purpose of the fall of Ganga was to bring prosperity and fertility to the land and it's people. For Hindus, the Ganga is not only a river but a goddess and a culture. The cosmic dance that Shiva **==== is performing is called //Anandatandava// (// Kaimal 395) .// This term means the Dance of Bliss and symbolizes the continuous cycle of life. His four hands are symbolic to the perpetual cycle of death and rebirth, a characteristic of Hindu religion. In his upper left hand, Shiva holds a flame. This flame resembles the flame of destruction, an important element in evolution. In his upper right hand, Shiva beats a drum which is the sound of creation. This drum is called a //damaru// in sanskrit. His lower right hand is raised, gesturing protection which is called //abhaya rhudra// in sanskrit. His lower left hand is pointing down, which symbolizes comfort and consolation in a time of distress. These symbols represents the cosmic cycles regarding creation, destruction and the daily rhythm of birth and death. In sanskrit, there are five principles of this energy: //Shrishti// (creation and evolution), //Sthiti// (preservation and support), //Samhara// (destruction and evolution), //Tirobhava// (illusion) and //Anvgrahn (//release, emancipate and grace) ("Lord of the Dance" 53). Shiva as Nataraja pulls the viewer in with his active energy and after analyzing the figure, one is left with tranquillity. **

References **// Print Sources: //  Kaimal, Padma. "Shiva Nataraja: shifting meanings of an . __The Art Bulletin__. 81.3 (September 1999): 390-419.

"Lord of the Dance." __Humanities__. 23.6 (November/December 2002): 52-3.

Maxwell, Robyn. "Shiva as Lord of the Dance [Nataraja]." __Artonview.__ 54 (Winter 2008): 42-3.

Merchant, Vasant V. "Siva-Nataraja: the lord of the dance, drama and music Siva--the cosmic dancer, transformer, liberator." International Journal of Humanities and Peace 19.1 (Annual 2003): 3(2). // Online Sources:

"Chola Sacred Bronzes of Southern India." __Cosmopolis__. 14 Jan. 2007. 6 June 2009 <[]>.

"Ganges." __The Free Dictionary__. 6 June 2009 <[]>

"Shiva As Nataraja - The Lord of Dance." __Lotus Sculpture__. 6 June 2009 < []>  //