Superbly crafted bronze set of Nataraja with Shivakami the deities of the Chidambaram temple. Shivakami and Nataraja are the deity-couple at Nataraja temple of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. Nataraja €“ the King of Dancers, is Shiva while Shivakami is Parvati, Shiva ’s consort. Shivakami means ‘the one desired by Shiva ’. This name implies that Goddess Parvati is so exquisitely beautiful that she can kindle desire even in the heart of Shiva who is the epitome of detachment. <br> <br>Shivakami €“ Nataraja is a traditional subject in bronze sculpturing of the Cholas. This bronze artwork is a similar sculpture. Shivakami stands left to Nataraja being his consort. She wears a richly carved crown and her long ear lobes are adorned with crocodile shaped earrings. Devi has prominent breasts indicative of her motherly love for all the worlds. <br> <br>She stands with feminine grace, with her weight on her right leg and the right of her waist is bent. Her left foot is a bit forward and slightly bent at knee. Her right hand is raised with fingers curled up as if around a lotus. Her left hand dangles gracefully in gajahasta mudra (when outline of hand and index finger resemble the trunk of an elephant). <br> <br>She wears fine cloth clinging to her legs. The excess cloth of her dress is shown hanging between her long legs in beautiful folds. A richly carved, broad ornamental girdle adorns her waist. The sculpture of Devi Shivakami stands on solid double pedestal of lotus and square. <br> <br>Next to Shivakami is the sculpture of Nataraja. He wears a crown of stork feathers beautified with Dhatura flower, kapaala (skull) and crescent moon. His free-flowing hairs bear Ganga depicted as a wave-damsel. Nataraja wears male and female earrings in his right and left ears respectively symbolizing the completeness of his being. <br> <br>He holds Damaru (hourglass drum) in his upper right hand and Agnishikha (flame) in left. His lower right hand is gestures Abhaya Mudra (gesturing fearlessness) and left hand rests relaxed in Gajahasta Mudra. He dances with his right foot on Apasmara who looks at Nataraja in bewilderment and awe, while his left foot is raised. <br> <br>The entire bronze sculpture is encircled by an aura of Nataraja ’s divine power represented by flames. The sculpture of Nataraja stands on solid double pedestal of lotus and square.
