A bronze representing Nataraja is presently on display in the Gallery of Polonnaruwa Period at Colombo National Museum.
Nataraja (Siva Devale No. 5), Colombo Museum
A bronze representing Nataraja is presently on display in the Gallery of Polonnaruwa Period at Colombo National Museum , Sri Lanka. It was discovered in 1908 in the precinct of Siva Devale No. 5 in the Polonnaruwa Ancient City (Chutiwongs et al, 2013; Krishnarajah, 1983). The Bronze The bronze is 64.5 cm in height and depicts the divine dancer Nataraja, a form of the Hindu god Siva (Krishnarajah, 1983). According to scholars, this bronze has several special features that are not found in other Nataraja images found in the country (Krishnarajah, 1983). The dancer is represented with many cobras upon his body besides the one that forms the usual ornaments of Siva (Chutiwongs et al, 2013; Krishnarajah, 1983). Also, two crescents are present on the Jatamakuta (headdress) while the ears are ornamented with two types of earrings; a Makarakundala and a disc-shaped Ratnakundala (Chutiwongs et al, 2013; Krishnarajah, 1983). The upper body of the dancer is naked but the lower body is covered by a t…
