Shiva Nataraja Processional Chariot Wood, India, Tamil Nadu

Important carved wooden panel depicting Shiva Nataraja, the Lord of Dance, dancing on the demon Apasmara, symbol of ignorance. Originating from Tamil Nadu (South India) and dating from the 19th century, this high relief once adorned a Hindu temple processional chariot. The richness of its composition, the multiplicity of Shiva’s arms, and the vestiges of polychromy attest to the quality of this religious sculpture, intended to illustrate the victory of the divine over the forces of ignorance and chaos.

• Former Claude de Marteau collection, sold with certificate of provenance.
• H (without base) 100 x D 12 CM x W 55 CM.
• Max H (with base) 110 CM.

Shiva Nataraja, the Lord of Cosmic Dance

This important high-relief sculpture depicts Shiva Nataraja or Natesha, one of Shiva’s most famous manifestations in Hinduism. Its name means “King of Dance” and evokes the cosmic dance through which the god creates, preserves, and destroys the universe to the infinite rhythm of time.

Everything in this composition conveys movement. Shiva’s body seems to come alive under the viewer’s gaze, while his multiple arms unfold a true sacred choreography. Each of them holds an attribute or performs a ritual gesture (mudrā), contributing to the symbolic significance of the scene. His hair, projected on either side of his head, further reinforces this impression of dynamism, while his richly adorned ornaments and finely sculpted garment attest to the artisan’s talent.

The gaze is then drawn to the top of the panel, where a Vyali, a protective creature from Hindu mythology, fiercely watches over the Lord of Dance. On either side, two apsaras seem to pour baskets of flowers over him, celebrating this divine manifestation.

Conversely, at Shiva’s feet, rests Apasmara, the demon of ignorance and spiritual oblivion. Far from symbolizing the destruction of an earthly enemy, this gesture expresses the victory of knowledge over ignorance, an indispensable condition for the liberation of the soul according to Hindu thought. Two other figures also take their place in the composition. One could be a Shivagana, a member of Shiva’s divine retinue, while the other evokes a Rudraganika, a sacred dancer attached to his cult… unless it is the beautiful Devi Parvati.

This iconography, particularly popular in South India, frequently adorned processional chariots, also called ratha (Sanskrit) or ther (Tamil), and pulled by devotees during major religious festivals. These richly carved wooden monuments would then travel through the streets of towns and villages, allowing devotees to approach the deities and admire the great episodes of Hindu mythology. Through the richness of its relief, its deeply carved volumes, and the visible vestiges of polychromy, this panel fully illustrates the remarkable craftsmanship of Tamil Nadu sculptors.

Discovering a representation of Shiva Nataraja in the collections of Claude de Marteau inevitably evokes the prestigious Chola bronze that the Belgian dealer sold to John D. Rockefeller III in May 1965, before it was bequeathed by the latter to The Asia Society in New York in 1979. We invite you to discover this masterpiece of Chola sculpture.

Temple Chariots in India

The large processional chariots (ratha) hold an essential place in Hindu religious festivals. Pulled by devotees during major celebrations, they are richly decorated with carved panels depicting the great episodes of mythology. These carved panels served both a decorative and pedagogical function, illustrating the exploits of the deities as well as the narratives of the Puranas for the devotees.