Shiva, the Hindu god of Destruction, stands in a stiff, frontal pose (samapada sthanaka) on a plain base with a large insertion tang extending beneath it. He has an ascetic’s piled hair (jata mukuta), which is tied in a bun and adorned with his attribute of the crescent moon. He has a third eye of wisdom (jñana netra), and is ithyphallic (urdhva linga) symbolizing the generative energy of the universe. He wears the Brahmanical sacred thread (yajñopavita) over his left shoulder, a dhoti, and a long sash draped over his left shoulder and forearm. He has four arms. In his upper right hand, he holds a mallet (mudgara) or an unusual staff. In his upper left hand, he holds a trident (trishula). His lower right hand is held in the gesture of reassurance (abhaya mudra) and holds a rosary (akshamala). He carries an ascetic’s waterpot (kamandalu) in his lower left hand.
