Nataraj

NAME NATARAJ MEDI BRONZE SCULPTURE PERIOD 13TH CENTURY A.D. DYNASTY CHOLAS THANJAVUR DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU LOCATION COLLECTION NATIONAL MUSEUM, NEW DELHI THEME / SUBJECT MATTER: Nataraj' means Shiva as a king of dancers. This sculpture is a symbolic representation of the universal circle of life. DESCRIPTION : Nataraj is an extraordinary sculpture of the rich cultural heritage of India. By the 12th century CE, the Chola Nataraja became the supreme statement of Hindu art. The French sculptor, Auguste Rodin has said "There is grace in elegance, but beyond grace there is perfection" Nataraj is standing in Aribhanga with four hands representing the cardinal directions - cast, west, north and south. Surrounding Siva, a circle of flames, jalamala represents the whole universe of endless cycle of birth and death in one frame, the cosmos of mass, time, and space One flame is held in Shiva's left rear palm, the flame of destruction which signifies final destruction of form, out of which a new world will arise. His left front arm across his chest has its hand pointing downwards in guja hasta mudra towards his elegantly upraised left foot His right foot crushes rechning figure of dwarf Apasmara, who stands for ignorance Siva's right front hand is raised in abhava mudra, the "fear-not" gesture of blessing, while his right rear hand holds a drum or 'dumroo" with which he keeps the beat of dance. Snakes that symbolise ego are seen curling around his arms, legs, and hair. His hair is braided and decorated. The snake around the waist is for kundalini, the Shakti or divine force that is believed to reside within everything. The crescent moon on his head, hair braids spread like wavy rays on both sides of the shoulders complete the iconography.