![]() ![]() Poised in one of Shiva’s hands is a flame of the cosmic fire he uses to end the universe in its cycle of creation and destruction. Shiva takes the snake and coils it around himself, thereby neutralizing it as a weapon. ![]() In one hands, he has Damaru, that Shiva beats a rhythm that brings the universe into creation. The open palm of Shiva’s right hand forms the abhayamudra, or hand gesture, signifying that the worshipper need have no fear. The left hand points downward to indicate sanctuary for the soul of the devotee. Hands, Damaru, Snake, Cosmic Fire, Jata, Moon and Ganga He is sometimes depicted with his consort Parvati (Uma) as a half-male, half-female form, illustrating the cosmic balance of male and female energies. The pair represents Shiva’s male and female aspects ( Ardhnarishwar). His left ear is adorned with a circular earring worn by women. On Shiva’s right ear is an earring depicting a makara, a mythical water creature. Across his torso is the Yagyopveet (Janeu in Hindi) the sacred thread of the Brahmin priestly class. Shiva Nataraja’s four arms each take a different position or hold symbolic objects, showing his strength and constellation of skills. The Hindu deities are depicted with multiple arms to illustrate divine power. Shiva’s third eye represents his cosmic knowledge. In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, a round circle of fire with flames of five points became typical for the Shiva Nataraja image. It represents the cosmic fire he uses to destroy the universe as part of the cycle of destruction and creation. There is an oval ring around the original figure of Shiva Nataraja. ![]() Hands, Damaru, Snake, Cosmic Fire, Jata, Moon and Ganga. ![]()
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