Bronze icons of Nataraja cast during the Chola period invariably show the deity with

1. Bronze icons of Nataraja (Shiva as the Lord of Dance) are iconic representations associated with the Chola period (c. 9th to 13th centuries CE) in South India. 2. These sculptures depict Shiva performing the Tandava dance. 3. A standard and widely recognized feature of the Chola Nataraja bronze icons is the depiction of the deity with four hands. 4. The upper right hand typically holds the damaru (drum), the upper left holds Agni (fire), the lower right hand is in Abhaya mudra (gesture of fearlessness), and the lower left hand points towards the uplifted foot, signifying refuge or liberation. 5. Depictions with two, six, or eight hands are not the standard or invariable representation for Chola Nataraja bronzes.