-Shiva has four hands -One hand sounds the drum that he dances to; another carries a flame of destruction; the other two offer the abhaya murda, a gesture that allays fear. -Epicene quality shows an idealized, nearly nude, male figure -Flying locks of hair terminate in rearing cobra -Often depicted in a flaming nimbus, vigorously dancing with one foot on a dwarf, the Demon of Ignorance. -Fire around Shiva represents the borders of the Hindu cosmos covered with flowers when carried in processions.
--Shiva periodically destroys the universe so that it can be reborn again. -He unfolds the universe out of the drum held in one of his right hands; he preserves it by uplifting his other right hand in a gesture indicating “do not be afraid.” -Shiva has a third eye barely suggested between his other two eyes; he once burned the Kama with this eye -The message is that belief in Shiva can achieve salvation
-The sculpture becomes the receptacle for the divine spirit when people pray before it; therefore, the sculpture is royally treated with gifts, food, and incense. -The sculpture can be bathed and clothed -A hole is at the bottom of the sculpture for the placement of a pole so that it can be used in processions and covered by flowers
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