A bronze representing Nataraja in his cosmic dance is presently on display in the Gallery of Polonnaruwa Period at Colombo National Museum.
Nataraja (Siva Devale No. 1), Colombo Museum
A bronze representing Nataraja in his cosmic dance is presently on display in the Gallery of Polonnaruwa Period at Colombo National Museum , Sri Lanka. It was discovered in the precinct of Siva Devale No. 1 in the Polonnaruwa Ancient City (Chutiwongs et al, 2013; Krishnarajah, 1983). The Bronze The copper bronze is 90.4 cm in height and depicts the divine dancer Nataraja, a form of the Hindu god Siva (Chutiwongs et al, 2013; Krishnarajah, 1983). The four-armed god dances balancing his body weight on the right leg, trampling down the dwarfish demon Muyalaka, the symbol of ignorance while the left leg is kept raised and bent Kunchitapada (Krishnarajah, 1983). The backhands hold a drum (or kettle?) and a flame, the symbols of creation and destruction while the front hands are in Varada and Gajahasta Mudras . The long hair spreading in either direction indicates the fall and spread of strands during god's dance. Rows of flowers, a skull, and a crescent are found inserted among the strands.…
