This sculpture depicts one of the forms of Shiva - Maheshvara. Shiva is one of the most popular Brahmanical gods. He was the counterpart of the Vedic Rudra. The Rigvedic divinities, who were either atmospheric or celestial deities, were subsequently remodeled and renamed in the Brahmanical literature. The atmospheric deities were eleven in number and were collectively known as the Rudras. According to some scholars the Rudras compounded themselves into a single figures of impetuous qualifications, under the name of Shiva. Moreover, some scholars believe that in the pre-Vedic period, the people of the Indus valley civilization used to worship a god who was in some respects similar to the Puranic representation of Shiva-Pashupati. We do not have the name of that pre-Vedic god, and we are also not sure if he transformed into Rudra in the Rigvedic and later Vedic period. In the post-Rigvedic period, Rudra-Shiva was known by various names. The Tantric literature too represented Shiva in numerous forms and aspects etc. The most famous of which are Nataraja, Nilakantha, Aghora, Kalyana-Sundara, Ardhanarishvara and Bhairava. Actually the sculptures depict the placid aspect of Shiva. The numerous figures of him (Shiva), belonging to the late Gupta and medieval periods, illustrate his various mythologies. The sculptures of Shiva can be divided into two groups. 1. Samhara (destructive) and 2. Anugraha (gracious), corresponding to his ugra and saumya (aspects). The ugra or terrific aspects have been represented by Bhairava, Gajasurasamhara, Tripurantaka, and Andhakasuravadha etc. The Anugraha-murtis of Shiva have been designated by Chandashanugraha, Ravananugraha, Dakshina-murti and Nritya-murti etc.

The present artwork depicts the anugraha aspect of Shiva. He is shown standing on a lotus pedestal. His right leg is slightly ahead of the left one, as if he is walking. He is wearing a skirt suspended upto the thighs. He is pot-bellied and has two arms, the right hand making the gesture of abhaya (protection), while the left hand holding a trident staff with a damaru (small kettle drum). He is adorned with earrings, necklaces, sacred-thread, armlets, bracelets and anklets. There is a snake around the neck. He has a sharp nose and three eyes. The two principal eyes are open and staring. The expression of the eyes is ferocious. There is a resplendent crescent on the proper right side of his head-dress. The top of the head shows the release of the river-goddess Ganga from the coils of his matted hair after being propitiated by sage Bhagiratha.

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