This sculpture represents Shiva’s wild form of Urdhava Tandava, with one leg artfully raised above his head and one left hand majestically over his head.
Once goddess Kali, the patron of Thillai forest challenged lord Shiva for a dance contest on a condition that the loser had to leave the forest.
The contest was judged by lord Vishnu and it went on for hours on equal level, so to win the battle, Shiva performed this posture of leg lifted over his head in the Ananda Thandavam; Kali being a respectable woman, denied to go into this compromising position and accepted her defeat.
The tranquil slight smile and passive gestures on his face represent his inner joy of winning the contest.
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