Badami Cave – 1: Nataraja performing Tandava Nritya

Shiva portrayed as Nataraja carved on the right side of Cave - 1, the first of the four of rock-cut caves of Badami, Karnataka, India

Nataraja carved on the right side of the Cave – 1 facade

Nataraja performing Shiva Tandava Nritya
The image shows a large-size sculptural relief carved on the right side of the Cave – 1 entrance depicting Nataraja (Dancing King), a manifestation of Shiva, performing the Tandava Nritya, a vigorous cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction.

As you can see, Nataraja is standing with a dancing pose on a lotus pedestal with his 18 hands carrying a variety of objects, including a trishula (trident) and an ax. Standing behind him is his vehicle Nandi and standing to his left is his son Ganesha. There is an unidentified figure seated behind Ganesha.

Cave – 1 Images
Facade and Entrance
Cave – 1 Ground Plan
– Left side view: Dwarapala, Shiva-Parvati, Vrishabha-Kunjara
– Mukhamantapa right wall: Ardhanarishvara and Sage Bhringi
– Mukhamantapa left wall: Harihara – Fusion of Shiva and Vishnu
– Mukhamantapa ceiling: Nagaraja
– Interior view: Garbhagriha and pillars
– Garbhagriha: Shivalinga

Related Images
Shiva Tandava Nritya – Bas-relief carved into the pediment of a gopura in the Banteay Srei Temple in Cambodia

Related Pages
Badami
Badami Cave – 1, Badami Cave – 2, Badami Cave – 3, Badami Cave – 4

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