Metal Shiva Statues from India and Nepal. The most popular type of Shiva Statue is that of Dancing Shiva, also known as Shiva Nataraja. These statues are often seen at temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, but are appropriate for home altars as well. In this Lord of the Dance statue, Shiva is stepping upon the demon of ignorance, one leg crossing his body and one arm crossing his chest in the pose of energy.

The second most common form of statue has the Hindu God Shiva sitting in meditation, sitting upon a tiger skin rug. Another image has Shiva "wearing" an elephant skin (in statues, he is usually seen standing upon the crumpled skin of an elephant demon).

Another common depiction of Shiva is as the lingam, which is a representation of a phallus. This association is almost certainly derived from pre-Hindu fertility gods who have been synthesized into Lord Shiva. There are "hybrid" statues that feature a sculpture of a phallus with the face of Shiva engraved on the shaft.

Materials Used In Shiva Icons

Statues that are dedicated to Shiva are almost always made of metals such as brass and copper, while lingam statues, on the other hand, are often made of stone. In India, stone carvings might be from sandstone or limestone.

Placing of Statues

The most appropriate place for a Shiva Statue is on an altar table, but any area where no nearby objects would be too close to the statue is appropriate as well. Don't place the statue near the end of a bed or under a clothes line. While in temples, there may be several images of Shiva in different areas.

Caring For Your Statue

Most Shiva statues have a patina applied that gives the statue an antique gold look. Do not polish the statue with any type of brass or metal polish, as this will remove the patina.