Page 572 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

570  SOUTH INDIA

Shiva, the Cosmic Dancer

Bronze sculptures depicting gods and goddesses are the glory of South Indian art.
Strict iconographic guidelines determine the proportions of each image and the
symbolic meaning of every stance, hand gesture, weapon and adornment. Master
sculptors working within these rules were able, nevertheless, to create images of
extraordinary individuality, power and grace. Among the most remarkable bronze
sculptures are those of Shiva as Nataraja, the Cosmic Dancer, and his wife Parvati.
Richly symbolic in their iconography, they were made during the Chola period,
from the 9th to the 13th centuries.
Nataraja
The Nataraja figure of Shiva as the Cosmic Dancer symbolizes A tiny crescent moon, a
nature’s cycle of evolution and transmutation, and displays the symbol of the passage of
Chola artists’ mastery of form and expression. time, balances in his hair.
The fire in the left
Goddess Ganga is hand symbolizes
shown among Shiva’s destruction.
flying locks, since it was
Shiva who eased her
descent to earth
(see p167).
The drum in
his right hand
symbolizes the
rhythm of creation.
An open palm
grants freedom
from fear.
The left palm
pointing to the foot
symbolizes salvation
from ignorance.
The left leg is lifted
up in an animated
dance movement.
The ring of flames
symbolizes the cosmos.

The right leg
tramples Apasmara,
a dwarfish figure,
who stands
for ignorance.
Bronze images
representing the main
temple deity are taken
out in processions on
The marriage of Shiva and Parvati festive occasions.
is a beautiful example of Chola art. It These images
shows Shiva, standing regal and tall, are clad in silk and
tenderly holding his bashful bride’s decked with
hand. Vishnu, as the brother of sandalwood paste
Parvati, is shown as an onlooker. and floral garlands.
See also features on Hindu Mythology (see pp28–9), Ganesha (see p471) and Vishnu (see p683)

570-571_EW_India.indd 570 26/04/17 11:48 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm