Shiva as Nataraja Sculpture - Hindu God.

The Hindu god Shiva - dimensions are ; 9 1/4" high , 7 7/8" wide with a base of 4 3/4" X 3 5/8" . Material is brass , nicely toned . This is the well known representation of the incarnation of Hindu god Shiva as 'Nataraja' , the lord of dance who simultaneously destroys and creates the universe anew with each cycle of his mystical dance . He stands within the image of a circle of flame , leg lifted in dance and with 4 arms . He stands on 'Apasmara' ( also known as 'Muyalaka' or 'Muyalakan') a dwarf who represents spiritual ignorance and nonsensical speech in Hindu mythology .The cosmic dancer has been recreated in many forms , stone , metal and others across the centuries in Shaivite temples particularly across southern India . Nataraja is the Sanskrit word for 'Lord of the Dance' .