Shiva is one of the three gods of the Hindu Trinity. He was called the destroyer and restorer. Shiva was especially popular and widely worshipped in southern India. This sculpture has an opening at its base that allowed it to be carried in religious processions. Shiva was considered the Lord of yoga. In India, Yoga encompasses the art of dance, which was not only regarded as a form of yoga but is associated with the act of creation as Lord of Yoga, Shiva was the source of the cosmic dance that creates the universe in endless rhythmic cycles. This image of Shiva, the dancer, has become symbolic of Indian civilisation. The sculpture shows Shiva dancing in a ring of flame that rises from a Lotus pedestal, the symbol of the arched ring and its three tongue flames represent the universe and its ultimate destruction by fire. In his upper right hand, Shiva holds the drum representing the sound at the creation of the universe. The 2nd right hand makes a gesture of reassurance. His upper left hand holds the flame of destruction. The lower one points to his left foot refuge of the soul. The gesture shows the path of salvation through Shiva's trampling of the demon that personifies ignorance. The small figure of Ganges at the left represents the God's intimate connection with water, the force of life.