Beautiful Bhagwan Shiva Statues of India
One of the most important deities in the Hindu pantheon, Lord Shiva is worshipped for his strength, power, knowledge, and for being the bearer of good fortune and spiritual liberation. Several statues of Lord Shiva are found in India, depicting him in various forms and manifestations and often featuring intricate carvings and decorations, adorned with flowers or incense. For many, these statues serve as a reminder of the power and grace of Shiva, and of the connection between humanity and the divine.
Nathdwara, Rajasthan: This colossal statue built on an area of 16 acres with a host of tourism facilities, is the tallest statue of Bhagawan Shiva in the world. Shiva is depicted in a seated position with the left leg placed atop the right. Naga Deva around the neck and the trident in the left hand are shown prominently. It measures 369 feet tall with the pedestal on which Shiva is seated measuring about 110 feet.
Murudeshwara, Karnataka: This beautiful statue of Bhagawan Shiva is about 125 feet and was built in 2006 on an elevated hill jutting out into the sea. The sea covers the hill from three sides. Shiva is seated in Padmasana and the peetha houses an amphitheatre taking the visitors on a tour of Shiva Purana and Bhagawan Ganesha’s faceoff with Ravana who was carrying a Shivalinga, which was the basis of the formation of Murudeshwara temple.
Haridwar, Uttarakhand: Located in a small park across a channel of the holy Ganga River, this statue is about 100 feet tall. Here Bhagawan Shiva is in a standing position with the right hand in Abhaya mudra and the left hand holding a trident. The statue is in the Har Ki Pauri area of the city about 4 kilometres away from the city centre.
Adiyogi, Tamil Nadu: This statue of Bhagawan Shiva is about 110 feet high, and it is shown from chest up. It is listed as the tallest bust in the world. Located about 30 kilometres away from Coimbatore city, the statue was inaugurated in the year 2017. It is a massive privately owned area with all facilities and amenities for tourists.
Namchi, Sikkim: Located at about 5,500 feet above sea level, Namchi is a fine tourist location. It houses a shiva statue which is about 87 feet tall. Here Shiva is shown in a seated position atop the Siddheshwar Temple. The complex has replicas of 12 jyotirlingas and it was inaugurated during the year 2011. Seated in Padmasana, Shiva is shown to have four hands here. The hands at the back hold the trident and the damaru (small drum), while the hands at the front have abhaya mudra and the rudraksha mala.
Vadodara, Gujarat: This Bhagawan Shiva statue is about 110 feet tall erected in the middle of the Sursagar lake in the city. Built in the year 2002 by the city corporation, it was then the tallest statue in India. The statue is in a standing position with one hand in abhaya mudra and the other holding the trident.
Vijayapura, Karnataka: This attractive Shiva statue built atop a small, elevated place called Shivagiri, is about 85 feet in height and is in Padmasana. Built by a devotee of Bhagawan Shiva, the place is developed as an attractive tourist place for devotees of Shiva. Built during the last decade, the place has scripts and photos of Shiva Purana carved on the walls.
Daarukavanam, Gujarat: It is the location of Nageshwar temple, one of the 12 jyotirlingas of the country. Close to the temple is built a statue of Bhagawan Shiva in a seated position, which is about 80 feet tall. Bhagawan Shiva is in a seated position with a trident and Damaru in the hands at the back and abhaya mudra and rudraksha mala the hands at the front.
