Excellent bronze sculpture of Shiva as Gajasamhara murti. Not many would be aware of this unusual and fearsome form of Gajasura Samhara of Lord Shiva. The story of how Shiva came to be known as Krittivaseshwara or Gajasura Samhara comes in Kurma Purana (one of the 18 Puranas). <br> <br>Once an asura (demon) attacked some pious Brahmins who were worshiping Shiva in Varanasi. Siva instantly emerged from the Linga they were worshipping and slew Gajasura. He then flayed his kritti (skin) and wore it like a cloth. This was a ferocious form of Shiva that scared even his consort Parvati. <br> <br>Notice that the sculpture is framed in an outline resembling an elephant figure. It has an elephant tail on top and four elephant legs dangling around. Shiva is seen eight-armed. He is tearing the elephant apart with his two hands, with his right foot placed on Gajasura ’s elephant head and his left leg folded in a dance-step. <br> <br>Starting anticlockwise, he holds Damaru (hourglass drum), Khadga (sword) and Trishula (trident) in his right hands and Kapaala (bowl fashioned out of human skull), Khetaka (shield) and Bhujanga (snake) in his left hands. <br> <br>He wears his hair like a halo and bears Dhatura flower, crescent moon, Ganga depicted as a wave-damsel and snakes therein. A beautiful garland of small bells runs around Shiva ’s body. <br> <br>Gajasamhara Shiva is flanked on either side by ganas (retinue of Shiva) that are drumming and clanking cymbals to the rhythm of Shiva ’s dance. A true masterpiece, this sculpture is one of its kinds.
