Rijksmuseum 2015 – Shiva Nataraja

India, Tamil Nadu, Chola style, 12th century, bronze.
Description of the Rijksmuseum:
“Shiva, in his manifestation as Nataraja (King of Dancers), represented in the anandatandava pose and encircled by a halo of fire, is both the creator and destroyer of the world. Beneath his foot is a dwarf, symbolizing ignorance. Richly decorated bronze figures of Hindu gods were carried in procession on feast days. Carrying poles were inserted through the rings on the base.”