Mask of Vaikuntha Vishnu, late 5th century. Learn more about 5th century masks
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A form of Shiva as a samharamurti (destructive aspect), which shows him vanquishing the elephant-demon Gajasura. In the iconographic depiction, Shiva is shown holding the skin of the elephant-demon like a halo around him, with one of his feet placed on the head of the elephant and the other bent and raised in suggestion of movement or dance. Depending on the number of hands given to the form, he may hold several objects, including the trident, dagger, noose, and drum, with at least one hand depicted in vismaya mudra (a gesture of wonder).