About the Pose of the Sculpture:
The symbolism of Siva Nataraja is
religion, art and science merged as one. In God's endless dance of creation,
preservation, destruction and paired graces is hidden a deep understanding of
our universe. Aum Namah Sivaya. Bhashya Nataraja, the King of Dance, has
four arms. The upper right hand holds the drum from which creation issues
forth. The lower right hand is raised in blessing, betokening preservation.
The upper left hand holds a flame, which is destruction, the dissolution of
form. The right leg, representing obscuring grace, stands upon Apasmarapurusha,
a soul temporarily earth-bound by its own sloth, confusion and forgetfulness.
The uplifted left leg is revealing grace, which releases the mature soul from
bondage. The lower left hand gestures toward that holy foot in assurance that
Siva's grace is the refuge for everyone, the way to liberation. The circle of
fire represents the cosmos and especially consciousness. The all-devouring form
looming above is Mahakala, "Great Time." The cobra around Nataraja's waist is
kundalini shakti, the soul-impelling cosmic power resident within all.
Nataraja's dance is not just a symbol. It is taking place within each of us, at
the atomic level, this very moment. The Agamas proclaim, "The birth of the
world, its maintenance, its destruction, the soul's obscuration and liberation
are the five acts of His dance." Aum Namah Sivaya.
Defining Features of the Statue: Nataraja is the ultimate Hindu icon!
This piece, besides being perfectly proportioned, has some special features on
the base that set it apart. Flanking either side of the Nataraja figure
are the two sons of Shiva, Ganesh and Murugan. Murugan is standing with
his right hand up in the "fear not" gesture or abhaya mudra. His
brother, Ganesh is forever one to be thinking of sweets is holding a ball of
sweets. His other two hands hold an elephant goad and a pasam or
noose. A
pasam or noose is a triple twine weapon. Each of the
three twines represent 1. Arrogance and conceit, 2. Maya - the
illusory nature of the real world 3. and Ignorance.
Goads (or elephant prods) are typically used to direct
elephants.
Goads are
symbolic of how one should steer the soul away from the ignorance
and illusions of this earthly world just as a mahout would steer
an elephant away from any treacherous path. Shiva's
vahana or vehicle is Nandi. The white bull sits on the front of the
base. All Shiva temples in India have a statue of Nandi near the entrance
to the temple.
A Note from conversations with the Artists: Nearby the artist'
villages is the city of Tanjore famous for its Tanjore museum which holds many
of the most beautiful Chola bronzes known. The museum houses a large
collection of fine Natarajas. They are very different stylistically from
much of the temporary Natarajas that are currently produced in the south of
India. The artists of the Bronze
Creative have drawn inspiration from the Tanjore bronzes in their work.
Simple yet elegant. Powerful yet whimsical. The slight turn of
Shiva's head and the perfect balance and proportion are worthy of the masters of
the Chola period in India!
Please call Bronze Creative @ 866-568-8712, International
203-629-0902 or email us
info@bronzecreative.com
Click
here for more pictures of Shiva dancing as Nataraja with his two sons, Murugan,
Ganesh and Nandi on the base.
