Description
This brass statue of Shiva as Natesh, the king of dancers, is a rare image-type as in the optimum images representing Shiva performing the dance of dissolution Tandava or Anandatandava, he is seen lifting his left leg and not the right one, as here. In most cases, the image of Nataraj is contained inside a fire-arch, which has great symbolic significance in Nataraj iconography. This Nataraj statue does not have such fire-arch. This form of Shiva with right leg raised was more popular with the Madurai artists in Tamilnadu and is hence sometimes identified as Madurai type image of Nataraj. The best known Nataraj image with the right leg lifted, is from the early eleventh century, that is, the period of Early Pandyas. It was reported from Poruppumettupatti in Madurai district and is now in the collection of Government Museum, Madras. The image has an iconography corresponding to the South Indian Chola art style, world-wide known for its bronzes. The deer motif, held in one of his left hands, with its hind part and face turned inwards, that is, towards Shiva, is a characteristic feature of Chola art. Exceptionally fine ornamentation, thoughtful face, sharp features, balanced and proportionate figure, a highly communicative body-language, which mark Shiva's figure, and a workmanship which is magnificent by any parameters, are other features of Chola bronzes of early medieval days. Obviously, this present image has been modeled pursuing the classical South Indian Chola art style and the rare Madurai model of Nataraj images.
