When comparing Shiva Nataraja (Shiva, Lord of the Dance) and Seated Buddha Preaching the First Sermon in the Deer Park, the artwork appear foremost similar but they have subtle differences in design while having tremendous amount of difference in meaning. It is thoroughly important for one to be able to recognize these differences because they are not the same artworks although there are shared characteristics. One major and obvious commonality Shiva Nataraja and the Seated Buddha Preaching the First Sermon in the Deer Park share is they are both sculptures. They feature a human figure who is appears to hold importance. The importance of both figures has a religious and spiritual basis. Influence of an Eastern culture is clear. The figure are smooth and almost simplified. The faces of the sculpture appears serene. Their eyes almost closed and slight smiles create a peaceful emotion. Both figures have a sense of balance to them and a three point pose. The sculptures are done in material that gives an organic feel such as sandstone and copper. Rings appear behind both figures and their meaning is the same. The rings …show more content…
While Shiva Nataraja has a strong Hindu basis, the Seated Buddha Preaching the First Sermon in the Deer Park is related to Buddhism. One can make this differentiation clear by determining who is the sculpture of. Shiva Nataraja features Shiva, a Hindu God. Seated Buddha Preaching the First Sermon in the Deer Park features Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha or the enlightened one preaching his first sermon. There is smaller design differences between the two, such as, Seated Buddha is carved from sandstone and Shiva Nataraja from bronze. There appears to be smaller human figures in both sculptures, the meaning behind them greatly varies, For Shiva Nataraja the baby figure being stood on is the dwarf of ignorance. The Seated Buddha teaching the others around