Indian school of the s. XIX. Lot n° 41

Indian school of the s. XIX. "Shiva Nataraja". Patinated bronze. Measurements: 22.5 x 16 x 7 cm. Patinated bronze representation of Shiva Nataraja. One of the invocations of the Hindu god Shiva is as "lord of the dance" or Nataraja. He performs a cosmic dance within a circle of flames. It is a destructive and constructive dance at the same time, regenerative. According to legend, some enemies wished to destroy Shiva. They sent a dwarf (considered by Hindus as demonic beings or the incarnation of evil) called "the devil of oblivion". To combat him, Shiva began his cosmic dance, subjugating the demon and freeing the world. The dance takes place in the center of the universe and in the human heart. The figure dances half-naked carrying in his hand a ball of fire or fire of enlightenment. Shiva's dance is composed of the ever-flowing combination of his five activities. The power of revealing brings knowledge and liberates the spirit. This is represented by the left foot raised and the left hand down like an elephant's trunk. It is the most common way of representing Shiva in South India, and is the most famous deity of the Chidambaram temple.