Description

Natesha or Nataraja, Shiva as the Lord of Dance, is one of the most significant forms of Shiva. The Nataraja form represents the exuberance and dance of creation which self-created itself from eternal stillness.As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs the Ananda Tandava (dance of bliss), the dance in which the universe is created, maintained, and dissolved. Image of Nataraja standing on a lotus base with kirtimukha in front. The Nandi, his vahana, is shown tasting his tentacles (Siva) from below. All his arms except the right and the middle which holds the drum now stand lost. He is flanked by a seated drummer on the right and a standing female on the left. At the top corners are depicted two flying celestials. He wears a jatamukuta, earrings, necklaces, armlets, yajnopavita, waistband and anklets.