NARRATOR: Within this circle of flame, the god Shiva appears in his archetypal form as Lord of the Dance. The figure’s complicated posture implies rhythmic movement. At the same time, it’s perfectly balanced, suggesting rest and serenity. It’s as if time has stopped—or as if we’re witnessing a dance outside of time. The fire surrounding Shiva represents the borders of the Hindu cosmos. In his upper right hand, he holds a round hand drum, or damaru. From this drum issues the primordial, vibrating sound of creation. Meanwhile, his upper left hand holds agni—the flame of destruction. Smiling benevolently, he tramples on a dwarf, who represents ignorance. The image of Shiva as both creator and destroyer embodies the Hindu concept of time as an endless cycle. This contrasts with the Western sense of time as history: a linear sequence of events. In Indian art, this cyclical notion of time manifests in a celebration of archetypes, rather than individuals—a realm of epic and myth beyond the day-to-day world.