The tandava aspect of Shiva – or his dance form – has had an infamous history that stretches from the most ancient of Indian texts like the Natyashastra to present day Hindu thought and society, for it is in the embodiment of such movement that Shiva represents the creative and destructive energies of the world.
The ‘sthapati’ has beautifully crafted this bronze sculpture in an agile, active, and dynamic manner, truly capturing the presence of Shiva.
His majestic four arms interact with his body, as well as hold onto his major attributes – the ‘damru,’ from which echoes the galactic sound of creation, and the eternal flame that cleanses the soul of the Shaivite devotee.
Shiva is modeled with his knees bent, standing on a raised lotus pedestal, and is shown wearing simple articles of clothing. He is the eternal wandering ascetic, not tied to material wants and illusions, and in his tandava we see him overcoming the vices of life. By paying service and piety to Shiva’s image as thus, we truly appreciate the aesthetic and religious form the sculptor has rendered in the ‘madhuchista vidhana’ fashion, presenting Shiva with a high-topped bun, ‘prabhamandala,’ jewellery, and ‘dhoti’ – all further resonating with Shiva’s royally divine status as part of the Trimurti of Hinduism.
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