India, Rajasthan or Madhya Pradesh, circa 12th century

In India Shiva is best known as the supreme yogi whose dance is a part of the cycle of destruction and regeneration of the universe. Depicted here as an ascetic with four arms, Shiva stands with his proper left leg turned out creating a slight bend in his posture. He holds a kamandalu in his proper lower left hand, a gourd or vessel often carved from a gourd or coconut, used for carrying water. His jewellery has been rendered with lavish detail, particularly his beaded belt which fits snugly around his hips, accentuating his fleshy, bulging belly. His matted hair, a symbol of his asceticism, has been piled high atop his head in rings and secured with a jewelled tiara. Carved in deep relief with fine detail, this rare depiction of Shiva as a yogi is a wonderful example of medieval Indian sculpture.