Shivathandavam

Detail Photos

The panel shows Shiva engaged in his cosmic dance called pradosha nritham or ananda thandavam. Shiva’s face is mostly lost, but seems to be white-skinned figure with 16 hands — 8 on each side — holding different weapons. On his right hand is the dwaja sthambam (or flagsttaff) with his mount Nandi the bull seated above it. He wears a green and red lower garment and tiger’s skin. One of the upper left hands hold a trishula (trident). He is surrounded by a prabhavali circle. On his feet is the apasmara bhootha who is lying curved over the prabhavalayam. He is green-skinned with fangs holding the tail of a serpent with his hand and head with his hands. Above the apasmara bhootham’s head is the figure of Bhringi, the dance master with three hands. He appears to the right of Shiva. There is Veerabhadra enjoying the dance at the topmost corner. His form is fierce. He is blue-skinned with three eyes (one eye on the forehhead); threeof his visible arms are holding weapons. His upper left hand holds a sword, right hand holds a shield and his lower left hand holds a trishulam (trident) which seem to be piercing a headless human body. There is an elephant on this right earlobe and a lion on his left. The bottom of the panel is mostly lost but to the left end is the figure of Vishnu playing the mizhaav. Ganesha and Subhramaniyan are also present, but their figures are faded. A silhouette of Subrahmaniyan’s mount the peacock can be seen. To the bottom right corner stands green-skinned Parvathy. There two white and one yellow figure, but it is faded, with no identifying marks.