Shiva Nataraja, or Shiva the Cosmic Dancer: Shaivites, or worshippers of Lord Shiva can be found today in parts of India such as Kashmir and Tamil Nadu as well as in parts of southeast Asia, especially Bali. For Shaivites, Shiva is equivalent to the Supreme Deity or Brahman and not simply a manifestation of God, in charge of destruction and transformation.
In this modern depiction of Nataraja, Lord Shiva’s sign language shows that He holds the ampoule of vaccine in the agni or fire hand. He holds the syringe and needle in the hand with the fear not mudra. As always, He stands with His right foot on, and tramples Apasmara, the demon dwarf representing spiritual ignorance. His front left hand points to His left foot, which is held high, indicating the possibility of moksha, Divine realization and liberation.
