Shiva Natarāja, c. 1100

An artist sculpted this figure in approximately 1100, in what is now India. It depicts Shiva, a Hindu god who has the power to destroy the world in order to remake it in a better way. He is known as the Lord of Dance (Shiva Natarāja), and his mastery of complicated South Asian dances is a metaphor for his ability to maintain the delicate balance of death and re-creation. His most important dance is the dance of death that prepares the universe for rebirth.

The unknown sculptor includes attributes, or symbolic objects, in this sculpture. Shiva has a third eye in his forehead, signifying enlightenment. Cobras wrap around his body, referencing his destructive power. Their ability to shed their skin and reveal new skin underneath is also a metaphor for Shiva’s regenerative ability. Shiva’s four hands metaphorically encompass the universe by referring to the north, south, east, and west. His lower foot balances on a personification of ignorance. On his left, one hand holds a flame, and another points down to the vanquished foe. One of his right hands holds a small drum representing the relationship between men and women. The other is in a position symbolizing fearlessness. An arch of flames that represents the unending cosmic cycle of rebirth surrounds him. The work rests on a lotus pedestal, which signifies creative powers.

The artist who sculpted this work used the lost-wax method. The sculptor made a wax model, encased it in a mold, and then heated the wax so it could drain from a hole. Then the artist filled the empty void in the mold with molten bronze. After the bronze hardened, the artist removed the mold then assembled and polished the bronze.

This sculpture has an open form, in which parts of the sculpture extend into and incorporate the surrounding negative space. The fiery ring encircles the sculpture, which is appropriate because it is a metaphor for the life of the universe. Shiva’s many limbs and the snakes energize the sculpture with dynamic lines and suggestions of movement. His rounded form and the deep relief of his attributes create highlights and shadows that emphasize the god’s energy.

Shiva balances carefully, showing his skill in the dance of life and death. The symmetry of the surrounding ring and headdress emphasize this balance.

• How does the sculptor use attributes in this artwork?
  (Each symbol tells a part of Shiva’s story and shows his power. Attributes also animate the sculpture, giving it energy through lines, deep shadows, bright highlights, and intricate patterns.)
  

• How does the artist show movement?
  (Shiva’s pose creates a sense of the movement of the dance. The leg he stands on has a bent knee, suggesting that at the next moment he will shift into another pose.)
  

• How is this sculpture theatrical?
  (The fiery ring acts as a background and energetically pushes Shiva’s body into the foreground. The frontal pose directly addresses the viewer, and the arch’s symmetry frames the scene. The artist intends for the viewer to observe this sculpture from the front; details in the snakes and flames are less pronounced or omitted in the back, and the joints are visible.) 

Click here to preview and download a poster-size version of "Shiva Natarāja".