---
title: Shiva Nataraja
author: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4045/shiva-nataraja/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
updated: 2024-12-16
---

# Shiva Nataraja

_Authored by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra_

## Image File

[![Shiva Nataraja](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/4045.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/4045.jpg)

## Image Caption

[Shiva](https://www.worldhistory.org/shiva/) Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, [bronze](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/bronze/) [sculpture](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Sculpture/), 11th century.

Musée Guimet, [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/).

The [Hindu](https://www.worldhistory.org/hinduism/) [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) is represented in his triple role as Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer. He stands within a flaming halo representing Time, which is cyclical and has no end. He has one foot on the dwarf figure Apasmara Purusha, who represents illusion and who leads men away from truth. He holds in his top left hand the fire (*[agni](https://www.worldhistory.org/Agni/)*) which will destroy the universe and in his top right hand the drum (*damaru*) which made the first sounds of the creation. The lower right hand makes the *abhayamudra* gesture, which calms all fear and the lower left hand points to his left foot, symbol of salvation.

## Bibliography

- [Musée Guimet](http://www.guimet.fr/en/collections-en/india "Musée Guimet"), accessed 1 Dec 2016.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Dalbéra, J. (2015, September 01). Shiva Nataraja. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4045/shiva-nataraja/>
### Chicago
Dalbéra, Jean-Pierre. "Shiva Nataraja." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 01, 2015. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4045/shiva-nataraja/>.
### MLA
Dalbéra, Jean-Pierre. "Shiva Nataraja." *World History Encyclopedia*, 01 Sep 2015, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4045/shiva-nataraja/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://www.flickr.com/photos/dalbera/2601399794/in/photolist-nnP2ro-noJiZN-8EAK1-nnYMC2-nmKTiu-npKnUx-4XSRwA-nn33Bk-nn3fzD-nn3ktX-FNRC3-npKkFz-nopvSS-no256s-nmKGVL-noprBN-npKnK4-nmKN4m-nn3dnx-noNJ6z-nkWoHG-npKnZx-noHF9n-nnGkis-nopp6W-qLHnE9-FNV1p-ny3q9X-rDTfPr-npRtan-nbwLaK-nq8Hb8-J31fL-njZzKG-FNQtf-efyBdS-J31fW-J31fS-4QTLsU-4QPybK) by **Jean-Pierre Dalbéra**. Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 01 September 2015. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0deed.en). This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.