Cleveland Museum of Art is presenting an exhibit of sensual and sacred temple bronzes through Sept. 14.

The exhibit, "The Sensuous and the Sacred: Chola Bronzes from South India," features rarely seen 9th- to 13th-century bronzes. The pieces were derived from public and private collections in Europe and the United States.

The 59 temple bronzes on view are from the Chola period, a time of both artistic creativity and tolerance of religion in southern India.

The art of the Chola dynasty comes from the Hindu tradition, the most common religion in India. The centerpiece of daily activity for Hindus started at the temple, and Chola rulers became responsible for building some of the most impressive temples in southern India.

Chola artists began replacing immovable stone icons and producing portable bronzes for daily rituals and periodic ceremonial processions. The bronzes were worshipped as living entities. They were, draped with silk, adorned with jewels and flower garlands, and given offerings of food, incense and other gifts. There are bronzes that remain in Hindu temples today that continue to be decorated for worship. For Hindus, God can be seen in many forms and the Cleveland museum focuses on the gods Shiva and Vishnu.

One of the most remarkable achievements of the Chola artists was the portrayal of Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of Dance, which symbolizes the power of Chola kings. Of all the Shiva illusions, this one was particularly admired and popular. The dance holds many meanings, symbolizing the creation and destruction of the universe. Shiva Nataraja is contained within a flame-tipped circle, symbolizing the universe. He embodies perfect balance and continual movement, his dance keeping the universe in motion. His four hands contain objects in each one, symbolizing his many supernatural powers.

The drum in his upper right hand symbolizes life, its sound symbolizing creation or the beginning of time. The other right hand, which both blesses and protects, holds a posed gesture meaning "fear not." In the god's upper left hand are flames representing destruction and the promise of re-creation. The lower left hand points to a raised foot, which together offer salvation and signify the release from the cycle of existence. He tramples on the back of a dwarf, an action symbolic of victory over evil and ignorance.

At the end of each great cycle of time, Shiva destroyed the world to re-create it in a better form, an analogy of reincarnation of individual beings.

In another image of Shiva with a trident, the god is shown as male on the right and female on the left. In Hindu belief, God is not a man or a woman, but has the qualities of both.

The exhibit also features examples of Buddhist and Jain bronzes, jewelry, photomurals of temples and a fully draped and decorated bronze statue that is ready for processional rituals. A screen room gives visual context to the step-by-step process of bronze making.

The Chola dynasty was the dominant political, cultural, religious and artistic force in the south India region for 400 years and reached new heights with the arts, as well as with philosophy and religious thought.

The Cleveland exhibit is organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Smithsonian Institution and is the final stop for the unprecedented exhibit.

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Larissa Theodore at ltheodore@sharonherald.com