Chandrashekhara
Description
Karl & Meherbai Khandlavala Collection.
Out of the various forms of Shiva, the image of Chandrashekara is peaceful and benign. As his name indicates, he has the moon on his head adorning his matted locks.
According to the legend, Shiva repulsed the demons with nonchalance. They threw at him a black antelope, but he killed it and held it aloft. They flung the crescent at him, but he caught it and tucked it in his hair. Chandrashekhara stands erect, holding an axe and an antelope in his upper two hands. His right hand is in the abhayamudra, while with the other one he bestows a boon. His slim and elegant body is decorated with necklaces, armlets, earrings, and other ornaments.
This beautiful statuette, produced during the reign of the famous Chola King Raja Raja Chola in the 11th century CE, is typical of the Chola bronze.
Collection
Sculptures
Object Type
Sculpture
Material
Bronze
Schools/Culture/Period
Chola period
Technique
Lost Wax
Date
Early 11th century CE
Location
Tamil Nadu
Dimension
Ht. 39.1 cm