Impressive Sculpture of Shiva Battling the Elephant 35"

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Materials: Black Marble from Bihar, India Total Height Including Base: 35 inches Widest Point: 19 inches Base Width & Depth: 12 x 10 inches Weight: 69 pounds Item # 17bm11 Price:

$4250

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Description About Shiva Care

This sculpture is called Gajasamharam - "Shiva Battling the elephant. This pose has all the grace of a Nataraja sculpture. Shiva seems to balance on the head of the elephant with his one leg as the other is lifted up as though he were skipping. His body is thrown back in ecstasy with his arms spread out in a fan of seeming joy. His fangs are exposed showing him to be terrifying. Shiva again displays his dualistic nature by being both joyous and terrifying at the same time. The surrounding ring around Shiva is the carcass of the dead elephant. The four feet of the elephant dispersed around the skin of the dead elephant. The dead skin of the elephant is a marked contrast from the Nataraja sculpture's cosmic arch. There is a small "O" that is formed by the elephants tail on top of the sculpture. In his left hand he holds a cobra, and a scalp. The base with all its detailed work is a 360 degree pleasure! The base is carved hallow. In the front of the sculpture there are two narsis, A narsi is a mythical lion like beast used in south Indian sculpture. Carved into the the foundation of the sculpture in bas-relief between the two narsi are two yali. A yali is a mythical animal with body of a lion, tail of a peacock and the trunk of an elephant. On either side of the base are two carvings of Shiva's bull, Nandi. On the back of the base is one large face of a narsi. All the fine detail work fully covers the base from every angle. The Stories Behind the Sculpture: In Varanasi, India there was a demon in the form of an elephant who was harassing the saints and devotees of Shiva during their prayer. Shiva then destroyed the elephant-demon for the lack of respect. Thus the name, Gajasamharam, Sanskrit for "Killing the Elephant." Another story with Shiva battling an elephant is part of the story of the Nataraja. There were rishis and priests living in the forest known as 'Tharukavanam', they became very arrogant as they had mastered all the 'Vedas', 'Agamas' and 'Shastras' and could raise powerful creatures from the sacrificial fires to do their bidding. Lord Shiva wished to show these rishis their limitations and appeared as a handsome mendicant with Vishnu as his wife 'Mohini'. This created chaos in 'Tharukavanam' as the wives of the rishis fell under the spell of this charming, handsome mendicant while the youthful rishis fell for the allure of Mohini. The older rishis became very angry and wanted to destroy the pair. They raised a sacrificial fire, 'Homam', from which appeared a tiger which was directed at the pair. Lord Shiva killed the tiger, peeled off its skin and tied it around his waist. They raised an elephant which they sent against Lord Shiva, which Shiva destroyed. Then the rishis produced a poisonous serpent, which Lord Shiva caught and wore around his neck. The rishis also sent

a demon, 'Muyalakan', against Lord Shiva whom he crushed under his feet. Then the rishis sent the sacrificial fire against him which he put on his left hand. The rishis having lost the fire sent the Vedic 'mantras' which the Lord wore around his ankles. At this the rishis conceded defeat and the Lord revealed himself by dancing the 'Oorthava thandavam' with his matted hair unfurling in all eight directions and the world reverberating to his steps. About the Black Marble: The black marble, called sange-rathek, is found in Jhansi, in the state of Bihar, India. The stone is known for its wonderful deep black/blue color and the colored purple and yellow veins that flow through the stone. Looking into a piece of sange-rathek is like staring into deep space and seeing distant galaxies. It is a very unique and wonderful stone. Sculpture is very rare to find in this stone because there are seldom pieces of raw stone large enough to accommodate a fullsized sculpture.

Village Goddess Manasa the Hindu Goddess of Snakes 19"

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Materials: Bangladeshi Lost Wax Method Bronze Total Height Including Base: 19 inches Base Width & Depth: 11 x 7 inches Weight: 28 pounds Item # 16b27 Price:

$980

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Manasa (pronounced "Manesha") is a Goddess of snakes & agriculture, often worshiped in Bengal. She is the daughter of the sage Kasyapa and brother of the naga king Vasuki. Her son's name is Astik, who shown on the Goddess's lap in the sculpture. Manasa's worship is believed to offer protection from snakebite; while anyone who offends her may be punished by this means. Courtesy of Mr. Arlen O'Laochdha Manesha demands respect. She is majestically seated on the top of the pyramid base that is crowned by a 7 headed cobra. She looks out hypnotizing anyone who looks at her with her deep, penetrating stare. On her lap sits a small child. She holds some type of root or stem with leaves.

Black Marble Leaping Shiva Statue 18"

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Materials: Black Marble from Bihar, India Total Height Including Base: 18" inches Base Width & Depth: 12 x 6 inches Weight: 17 pounds Item # 52bm29 Price:

$1090

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Description About Shiva Care

Shiva is electrifying! In this dynamic sculpture, which is an adaptation of his as lord Nataraja, Shiva has departed from his typical position while dancing on the dwarf of ignorance, Apasmara. He is caught standing on Apasmara almost leaping off of his throat. His right hand is still stretched across his chest in the grahasta or elephant trunk position like Nataraja. He holds a knife, shield and agni or fire in his other 3 hands. The dwarf is in a position of collapsing backwards which gives the sculpture a true feeling of energy and action. The base has two cobras carved into it with a trident in the middle. The back of the base has two cobras carved into it as well. About the Black Marble: The black marble, called sange-rathek, is found in Jhansi, in the state of Bihar, India. The stone is known for its wonderful deep black/blue color and the colored purple and yellow veins that flow through the stone. Looking into a piece of sange-rathek is like staring into deep space and seeing distant galaxies. It is a very unique and wonderful stone. Sculpture is very rare to find in this stone because there are seldom pieces of raw stone large enough to accommodate a fullsized sculpture.

Shiva in Winning Pose After a Dance Competition with Kali 19"

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Materials: Black Marble from Bihar, India Total Height Including Base: 19" inches Widest Point: 16 inches Base Width & Depth: 6.5 x 5 inches Weight: 17 pounds Item # 30bm2 Price:

$1100

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Description About Shiva Care

The Story Behind the Dance Competition with Kali and the Wild Thandavam: Kali was the patron goddess of Thillai Forest. Lord Shiva came to the forest to dance for two of his devotees, Patanjali and Vyaaghrapaada who worshipped the svayambhu-linga, now in the inner sanctum of the temple. Kali challenged Shiva to a dancing contest on the condition that the loser had to leave the forest. The contest was judged by Lord Vishnu. The dance contest went on for hours with every one of Shiva's dance postures being matched by Kali. Shiva performed a posture with his left leg lifted over his head in the Ananda Thandavam exposing his genital area. Kali, being a respectable woman, was unable to go into this compromising position. Thus, Kali admitted defeat and left the forest. In his joy he named Saraswati, Vagdevi, goddess of speech and sound. The sound of mantras filled the universe with vital energy, or prana. Things began to take shape and the cosmos acquired a structure: the sky dotted with stars rose to form the heavens; the sea sank into the abyss below, the earth stood in between. Gods became lords of the celestial spheres; demons ruled the nether regions, humans walked on earth. The sun rose and set, the moon waxed and waned, the tide flowed and ebbed. Seasons changed, seeds germinated, plants bloomed and withered, animals migrated and reproduced as randomness gave way to the rhythm of life. Brahma thus became the creator of the world with Saraswati as his wisdom. About the Black Marble: The black marble, called sange-rathek, is found in Jhansi, in the state of Bihar, India. The stone is known for its wonderful deep black/blue color and the colored purple and yellow veins that flow through the stone. Looking into a piece of sange-rathek is like staring into deep space and seeing distant galaxies. It is a very unique and wonderful stone. Sculpture is very rare to find in this stone because there are seldom pieces of raw stone large enough to accommodate a fullsized sculpture.

Red Marble Ardhanari Statue with Serpent 22"

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Materials: Red Gorora Marble from Uttar Pradesh Total Height Including Base: 22" inches Base Width & Depth: 9 x 6 inches Weight: 19 pounds Item # 52rm79 Price:

$590

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Description About Shiva Care

The Hindu Gods Shiva and Parvati are synthesized into the one form of Ardhanari. Shiva is depicted on the right half with Parvati on the left half. Shiva holds a drum up high over his head. Parvati holds a lotus flower and a cobra. There is a 5 headed serpent overhead. On the base are two opposing lion figures, the vahana or vehicle of Parvati. About Gorora Stone: Gorora stone or Red marble is a wonderful stone for sculpture because of its wide color range. It is rarer than most soft stones and must be shipped into Tamil Nadu from Uttar Pradesh in the north. The stone has wonderful cream/yellow/green veins in it contrasting to the beautiful deep red to sometimes pink natural coloration of the stone. The stone is extremely glossy. When a red marble statue is polished it has a disarming shimmer.

Red Marble Shiva Battling the Elephant Statue 27"

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Materials: Red Gorora Marble from Uttar Pradesh Total Height Including Base: 27" inches Base Width & Depth: 18 x 7 inches Weight: 46 pounds Item # 52rm31 Price:

$1890

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Description About Shiva Care

This sculpture is called Gajasamharam - "Shiva Battling the elephant. This pose has all the grace of a Nataraja sculpture. Shiva seems to balance on the head of the elephant with his one leg as the other is lifted up as though he were skipping. His body is thrown back in ecstasy with his arms spread out in a fan of seeming joy. His fangs are exposed showing him to be terrifying. Shiva again displays his dualistic nature by being both joyous and terrifying at the same time. The surrounding ring around Shiva is the carcass of the dead elephant. The four feet of the elephant dispersed around the skin of the dead elephant. The dead skin of the elephant is a marked contrast from the Nataraja sculpture's cosmic arch. There is a small "O" that is formed by the elephants tail on top of the sculpture. In his left hand he holds a cobra, and a scalp. The Stories Behind the Sculpture: In Varanasi, India there was a demon in the form of an elephant who was harassing the saints and devotees of Shiva during their prayer. Shiva then destroyed the elephant-demon for the lack of respect. Thus the name, Gajasamharam, Sanskrit for "Killing the Elephant." Another story with Shiva battling an elephant is part of the story of the Nataraja. There were rishis and priests living in the forest known as 'Tharukavanam', they became very arrogant as they had mastered all the 'Vedas', 'Agamas' and 'Shastras' and could raise powerful creatures from the sacrificial fires to do their bidding. Lord Shiva wished to show these rishis their limitations and appeared as a handsome mendicant with Vishnu as his wife 'Mohini'. This created chaos in 'Tharukavanam' as the wives of the rishis fell under the spell of this charming, handsome mendicant while the youthful rishis fell for the allure of Mohini. The older rishis became very angry and wanted to destroy the pair. They raised a sacrificial fire, 'Homam', from which appeared a tiger which was directed at the pair. Lord Shiva killed the tiger, peeled off its skin and tied it around his waist. They raised an elephant which they sent against Lord Shiva, which Shiva destroyed. Then the rishis produced a poisonous serpent, which Lord Shiva caught and wore around his neck. The rishis also sent a demon, 'Muyalakan', against Lord Shiva whom he crushed under his feet. Then the rishis sent the sacrificial fire against him which he put on his left hand. The rishis having lost the fire sent the Vedic 'mantras' which the Lord wore around his ankles. At this the rishis conceded defeat and the Lord revealed himself by dancing the 'Oorthava thandavam' with his matted hair unfurling in all eight directions and the world reverberating to his steps. About Gorora Stone: Gorora stone or Red marble is a wonderful stone for sculpture because of its wide color range. It is rarer than most soft stones and must be shipped into Tamil Nadu from Uttar Pradesh in the north. The stone has wonderful cream/yellow/green veins in it contrasting to the beautiful deep red to sometimes pink natural coloration of the stone. The stone is extremely glossy. When a red marble statue is polished it has a disarming shimmer.

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