This gorgeous bronze statue is a typical four-armed depiction of Shiva. The upper right-hand holds a damaru in a gesture called damaru-hasta symbolizing rhythm and movement in time. The left is in Ardha Chandrakar mudra holding the flame of fire in the palm. Fire signifies forces of creation and destruction. The lower right palm shows the Abhaya mudra to the devotees. A cobra uncoils from his lower right forearm suggesting to the devotees, not to fear any evil. Nataraja dances on the supine body of dwarf demon Apasmara, representing ignorance and evil, subdued by the dancing god. The ring of flames (prabhamandala) which surrounds the figure is a symbol of the endless cycle of birth and death. Shiva is surrounded by 4 dancing female figures. The idol stands upon a lotus pedestal with the shiva linga in the middle. It’s a heavy handmade sculpture, weighing over 100 kgs, made from Panchaloha Bronze in the tradition of Swamimalai. The artisans of this region follow an ancient tradition of bronze sculpting by a unique method called Madhuchista Vidhana, or the Lost-wax method, which is described in the Silpasastra. The sculpture has been crafted with great precision to achieve the fine details. Panchaloha is the traditional five-metal alloy of sacred significance and is used for making temple idols and jewelry.