Nataraja is a depiction of the hindu god shiva as the cosmic ecstatic dancer. His dance is called tandavam or nadanta depending on the conte t of the dance. The pose and artwork is described in many hindu te ts such as the anshumadbhed agama and uttarakamika agama the dance relief or idol featured in all major hindu temples of shaivism. The sculpture is symbolic of shiva as the lord of dance and dramatic arts with its style and proportions made according to hindu te ts on arts.Typically shows shiva dancing in one of the natya shastra poses holding agni fire in his left back hand the front hand in gajahasta or dandahasta mudra the front right hand with a wrapped snake that is in abhaya fear not mudra while pointing to a sutra te t and the back hand holding a musical instrument usually a damaru. His body fingers ankles neck face head ear lobes and dress are shown decorated with symbolic items which vary with historic period and region. He is surrounded by a ring of flames standing on a lotus pedestal lifting his left leg or in rare cases the right leg and balancing over a demon shown as a dwarf apasmara2 or muyalaka who symbolizes ignorance. The dynamism of the energetic dance is depicted with the whirling hair which spread out in thin strands as a fan behind his head. The details in the nataraja artwork has been variously interpreted by indian scholars since the 12th century for its symbolic meaning and theological essence.