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1.
Shiva Nataraja
Bronze, Vijayanagar, Deccan, late 15th century
window case 12
Shiva Nataraja (The Lord of the Dance) is the best known representation
of Shiva in human form. As here, he is shown with four arms, dancing
within a ring of flames. In his hands he holds the fire of destruction
and a double-sided drum whose beat marks the process of creation.
In this form, the god brings one time cycle to an end (hence the fire
of destruction) and welcomes in the next (hence the beat of creation).
Trampled under his feet you can see the demon Apasmara and in Shiva’s
hair you can see the figure of the goddess of the River Ganges.
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2.
Nandi the Bull
Bronze, Vijayanagar, Deccan, late 15th century
on plinth
The three main Hindu deities have vehicles on which they ride. Vishnu
rides the divine eagle Garuda, Goddess Devi rides the lion or tiger
and Shiva rides Nandi the bull. Nearly every temple of Shiva has a
statue of the crouching bull positioned facing it. This basalt statue
is from 16th- or 17th-century southern India. Notice how the bull
is portrayed as a young animal, whose horns are only stumps, and that
it is decorated with ornamental chains and bells. These were constant
features. This particular statue, however, has an unusual added touch
- the bull’s tongue licking his nostril.
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3.
Ganesha
Bronze, Orissa, 16th century
window case 11
Skanda and Ganesha are the offspring of Shiva and Parvati. As you
can see, Ganesha has an elephant’s head joined to a child-like
body. One (of several myths) relates that when Ganesha was born
Shiva was away. When he returned to find a male youth at his house
with his wife he cut off the youth’s head. When Parvati told
him who the boy was Shiva offered to bring him back to life and
asked one of his servants to get the head of the first thing he
met, which he duly did: hence Ganesha’s elephant head. Ganesha
is believed to be the god of wisdom and learning, the bestower of
wealth and the remover of obstacles. He is also thought to protect
doorways and often appears above them.
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