Relief of Shiva, sandstone, 13th century AD., Thap Mam, An Nhon district, Binh Dinh province
Relief of Shiva, sandstone, 13th century AD., Thap Mam, An Nhon district, Binh Dinh province.
Shiva is one of the three great deities of the Hindu pantheon (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva), and is regarded as the Destroyer who destroyed the old to create the new. It was a central figure of veneration in Champa religion. The God is shown dancing the Tandava, the Cosmic Dance, in which each gesture signifies a petition. This Shiva relief, a Binh Dinh style, is usually presented at the upper part of the Champa temple’s gate. The worship of Shiva reflected concerns with reproduction and fertility as well as with the growth and development of the Champa people.