# Shiva Nataraja

- By: anonymous
- Date: c. 1100 - c. 1200
- Medium: bronze (metal)
- Classification: sculpture
- Dimensions: height 153 cm x width 114.5 cm
- Credit line: On loan from the Royal Asian Art Society in The Netherlands (purchase with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt, 1935)
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/AK-MAK-187--95977e9e42c08b342dd8614230e2c948)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/LAXcK/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

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.