Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Shiva Nataraja (12th Century)
The Hindu god Shiva (SHEE-vah)—one of the hundreds, if not thousands, of godlike in-
carnations of Hinduism's eternal being, Brahma—steps lively and creates the world by
dancing. His four arms are busy creating, and he treads on the sleepy dwarf of ignorance.
This bronze statue, one of Hinduism's most popular, is loaded with symbolism, sum-
ming up where humans came from and where we're going. Surrounded by a ring of fire,
Shiva crosses a leg in time to the music. Smiling serenely, he blesses with one hand, while
another beats out the rhythm of life with a hand drum. The cobra draped over his arm sym-
bolizes the
Kundalini Sakti,
the cosmic energy inside each of us that can, with the right
training, uncoil and bring us to enlightenment.
As long as Shiva keeps dancing, the universe will continue. But Shiva also holds a
flame, a reminder that, at the end of time, he will transform into his female alter ego, Kali,
and destroy the world by fire, clearing the slate for another round of existence.
• Head through the doorway into the adjoining Room 41 (labeled South Asia). You'll run
right into a glass case in the center of the room containing small items that were the...
