- Title
- Shiva as the Supreme Teacher
- Date Made
- circa 950-1000
- Medium
- Granulite
- Dimensions
- 32 7/8 x 14 1/4 x 7 5/8 in. (83.5 x 36.19 x 19.36 cm)
- Accession Number
- M.82.221
- Collecting Area
- South and Southeast Asian Art
- Curatorial Notes
This is a representation of the Hindu god Shiva as the Supreme Teacher of yoga, music, and knowledge. This form of the deity is known in Sanskrit as Dakshinamurti (south-facing image) and is typically installed on the southern wall of a Shiva temple. He has an ascetic’s piled hair (jata mukuta) with his long locks streaming out to the side. He has a third eye of wisdom (jñana netra). He wears standard jewelry, including the Brahmanical sacred thread (yajñopavita) worn over his left shoulder. Shiva sits in a relaxed posture (lalita asana) with his right leg pendant and resting on the Dwarf of Ignorance (Apasmara Purusha). He has four arms. His lower right hand is held in a gesture of teaching (vyakhyana mudra). He holds a sacred manuscript (sutra) in his lower left hand. Although difficult to discern due to weathering, his upper left hand may hold a flaming torch and his upper right hand may hold a serpent or rosary. Two bearded sages on the right side of the base represent the audience to which Shiva imparted his divine wisdom. See also M.76.98a-b.
