Shiva, King of Dancers (Shiva Nataraja) India, Tamil Nadu, Chola dynasty, 1100s bronze, 36 7/8 inches (93.7 cm) high Funds from Dora Porter Mason bequest 1947.2 Rotate Dancing Shiva

The Hindu god Shiva dances the universe into and out of existence. The sound of his drum heralds its creation; his burning flame signals its final conflagration. In his dance, Shiva tramples on the demon of forgetfulness, shown in the form of an infant. The cycle of time—past, present, and future—runs through the circle of flames within which he dances.


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