Masterpiece Urthava Thandavam, Shiva Dancing on Dwarf with 8 Arms 54"

Materials: South Indian, Lost wax method, bronze
Height: 54 inches
Weight: 245 pounds

Click here for more pictures of Lord Shiva with 8 arms dancing the Urthava Thandavam.

Special Features:  Shiva is magnificent, majestic, powerful, impressive and utterly penetrating.  While in his presence you can physically feel shakti exploding from every inch of Shiva's body and every hair on his dreadlocked head.  He is a remarkable achievement in bronze.  Worthy of the Chola Kings for whom these fabulous bronze sculptures were once commissioned.

The piece is 27 years old.  The deep, antique patina shows the effect of time on the metal.  The bronze is a stunning, deep, almost black, color.  You can see the build up of green oxides which are natural in older bronze.  This is not damaging to the sculpture and can remain on the sculpture.  Or you can use coconut oil applied to a rag to clean the piece and naturally remove the green oxides.

The fine work done on Shiva's hands are amazing.  Each finger and fingernail is a perfect lifelike representation of a hand.  The grace in which each of his fingers delicately hold each item show the depth of the artists skill.  In or on his eight arms are (clockwise starting the raised arm) a cobra, an antelope, a scepter with Nandi on top, a damru or drum, a drum stick, a bell, a trident and an axe. 
The cobra coiled around his upper arm symbolizes the power he has over the most deadly of creatures. Snakes are also used to symbolize the Hindu dogma of reincarnation. Their natural process of molting or shedding their skin is symbolic of the human souls transmigration of bodies from one life to another. 
The antelope was present at the union of Shiva and Parvati to show how all sentient beings approved of the marriage between the couple. 
Shiva's guardian, Nandi (the white bull), whose statue can often be seen watching over the main shrine is captured on the scepter.  The bull is said to embody sexual energy and fertility. 
Shiva holds an hour glass shaped drum or damru. The drum represents the rhythmic sound to which Shiva dances and ceaselessly recreates the universe.  He holds a bow-shaped stick that beats the drum.
Shiva holds a bell that accompanies the drum in creating the rhythm in which time passes and Shiva recreates the world.
Shiva holds a trident, which represents the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu.  It is also said to represent the threefold qualities of nature: creation, preservation and destruction, although preservation is usually attributed to Vishnu.
In Shiva's upper right hand he holds an axe.  In Hindu ideology weapons are viewed as symbolic tools to destroy the ego rather than to cause any type of bloodshed.

There are two truly unique aspects of this pose, one being Shiva's raised right leg.  The awkward position fits within the sculpture because of the other unique feature of the sculpture, the raised left arm with the poised cobra.  The two opposing leg and arm positions balance out each other perfectly.  Shiva is, after all, forever balancing out the world by destroying the old for life to begin anew.  On Shiva's big toe is a Yali eating its own tail making it a circular toe ring. 

Shiva dances on the body of a demon or Apasmara.  Apasmara, the dwarf demon, represents ignorance and mindlessness.  Apasmara tries to hinder all people from freeing themselves from the circle of reincarnation.

The fiery ring surrounding Shiva, the prahabhamandala, represents the universe with all of its illusion, suffering and pain.  The outer edge is fire and the inner edge represents the waters of the oceans.