The sculpture is symbolic of Shiva as the lord of dance and dramatic arts, with its style and proportions made according to Hindu texts on arts. It typically shows Shiva dancing in one of the "Natya Shastra" poses, holding Agni (fire) in his left back hand, the front hand in "gajahasta" (elephant hand) or "dandahasta" (stick hand) mudra, the front right hand with a wrapped snake that is in "abhaya" (fear not) mudra while pointing to a "Sutra" text, and the back hand holding a musical instrument, usually a "damaru". His body, fingers, ankles, neck, face, head, ear lobes and dress are shown decorated with symbolic items, which vary with historic period and region. He is surrounded by a ring of flames, standing on a lotus pedestal, lifting his left leg (or in rare cases, the right leg) and balancing / trampling upon a demon shown as a dwarf (Apasmara or Muyalaka) who symbolizes ignorance. The dynamism of the energetic dance is depicted with the whirling hair which spread out in thin strands as a fan behind his head. The details in the Nataraja artwork have been variously interpreted by Indian scholars since the 12th century for its symbolic meaning and theological essence.