Question

In which museum is the statue of Nataraja, a masterpiece in sculpture preserved?
A National Museum - New Delhi
B Salar Jung Museum - Hyderabad
C Indian Museum - Kolkata
D Prince of Wales Museum - Mumbai

Answer 1

Hint: Nataraja is a depiction of the Hindu Mythological male God Shiva as the divine dancer. His powerful dance is known as Tandava.

Complete answer: Lord Shiva’s pose and his dance form is considered very fierce and bold and is highly appreciated. The pose and the artwork is mentioned in many sacred Hindu textbooks like Anshumadhbhed agama and Uttara Kamika Agama. The dancing idol is present in many Hindu temples which follow Shaivism.
Nataraja which is a massive yet elegant and magnificent statue, made in bronze where Shiva can be seen in a passionate posture, engaged in an ecstatic dance is preserved at the National Museum in New Delhi. The posture shows Shiva performing Tandava, a cosmic dance which is known to both create and destroy the universe.
Not only it got recognition in India but on June 18th, 2004 a new landmark was created at CERN, where a 2m tall statue of the Indian God Shiva Nataraja was given to CERN by the Indian government to celebrate the research centre’s long association with India, because of the significance of the metaphor of Shiva's cosmic dance. The metaphor of the cosmic dance signifies the unification of modern science and mythology.
Therefore, option A is correct.

Note: The eloquent and bronze statue of the Shiva Natraja has no meaning if we do not understand what it depicts and what it symbolises. The dance signifies the beautiful and divine form of the Shiva.