Shiva

The Hindu god Shiva is known as the great destroyer, but he also has benign forms, one of which is shown here. The god's upper left hand would have held a small deer, symbolic of his role as pashupati, the lord of the wild animals of the forest. His lower left hand makes a gesture of pacification.

Such large bronze sculptures, often given as offerings by prominent or wealthy devotees, are placed within temples. On festival days, the images are taken out and carried through the town, so the gods can reveal themselves to their worshipers The lugs and holes in the bases of many bronze sculptures help support the figures during such ceremonial processions.

South India, Vijayanagar
ca. 13th-14th century
Bronze
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler, s87.0911