Photo: Rajaraja Museum

Shiva Vrishabhavana and Parvati

c. 1012
Rajaraja Museum, Thanjavur

An outstanding sculptural group. Shiva, with only two arms, stands with legs crossed in relaxed posture, his hair entwined with snakes. His right arm once rested on Nandi, now missing. "Vrishabhavana" means "rider of the bull (Nandi)."