Lord Nataraja....

Recently the United States handed over 157 artifacts and antiquities to the Prime Minister , including  a bronze statue of Nataraja .

• A bas relief panel of Revanta in sandstone made in the 10th century , 56 terracotta pieces , several bronze sculptures and a diverse set of copper objects belonging to the 11th and 14th centuries were also handed over to India with this statue.
• The list of items handed over includes an 18th-century sword , which mentions Guru Hargobind Singh in Persian , as well as some historical antiquities, including sculptures belonging to Hinduism , Buddhism and Jainism .

key points 

• Nataraja (Lord of Dance) , the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer , is found in metal or stone sculptures in many Shaivite temples , especially in South India .
  • It is an important part of Chola sculpture .
• In the upper right hand of Nataraja is the Damru  , symbolizing the sound of creation . All the compositions come out of the great sound of Damru .
• In the upper left hand is the eternal fire , symbolizing destruction . Destruction is the precursor and inevitable pattern of creation .
• The lower right hand is in abhaya mudra which signifies blessings and assures the devotee not to be afraid.
• The lower left hand points to the raised leg and indicates the path to salvation .
• Shiva is dancing on the figure of a dwarf . The dwarf symbolizes ignorance and arrogance of the individual .
• Lord Shiva is depicted as the source of all kinds of movement within the universe and the doomsday is represented by dances, arches of flames , these refer to the dissolution of the universe.
• The streams flowing through the tangled hair of Shiva represent the flow of the river Ganges .
• Shiva has a male ornament in one ear and a female ornament in the other. It represents the fusion of male and female and is known as Ardha-Narishvara .
• A snake is twisted around the arm of Shiva . The snake is a symbol of Kundalini Shakti , which resides in a dormant state in the human spine. If Kundalini Shakti is awakened , one can attain true consciousness .
• Nataraja is surrounded by a cloud/nimbus of twinkling lights which symbolizes the vast endless cycle of time.