as my 300th pic, I made this one very special. I don't know why I chose to do Kami as the Lord Nataraja but it seemed the most fitting. Why kami and not myself? Because I'm not a god, nor would I portray myself as one. My character is a fictional being and though she is supposed to represent me in a way she's still a character.

now onto the stuff I know you won't read.

(text is from [link] NOTE I did this as accurately as I could and still have it be personal for me so...it may be incorrect and some areas.)

The figure depicts a four-armed Shiva. These multiple arms represent the four cardinal directions. Each hand either holds an object or makes a specific mudra (gesture).

The upper right hand holds a hour-glass drum which is a symbol of creation. It is beating the pulse of the universe. The drum also provides the music that accompanies Shiva's dance. It represents sound as the first element in an unfolding universe, for sound is the first and most pervasive of the elements. The story goes that when Shiva granted the boon of wisdom to the ignorant Panini (the great Sanskrit grammarian), the sound of the drum encapsulated the whole of Sanskrit grammar. The first verse of Panini's grammar is in fact called Shiva sutra.

The hour-glass drum also represents the male and female vital principles; two triangles penetrate each other to form a hexagon. When they part, the universe also dissolves.

I made this the emblem of Tailswish because this is pretty much where I made my big start as far as getting my artwork out there and what have you. As well as the men and women that all work together to make the site enjoyable to experience.

The opposite hand, the upper left, bears on its palm a tongue of flames. Fire is the element of destruction of the world. According to Hindu mythology at the end of the world, it will be fire that will be the instrument of annihilation. Thus in the balance of these two hands is illustrated a counterpoise of creation and destruction. Sound against flames, ceaselessness of production against an insatiate appetite of extermination.

This one should be obvious, This is for every flame, hatemail, snide comment, bad look, hurtful gesture and all around bad blood against me. It only makes me want to continue what I do more. Some of it is actual helpful critique most of it..just isn't.

The second right hand is held in the abhaya pose (literally without fear) and so a gesture of protection, as an open palm is most likely to be interpreted. It depicts the god as a protector.

I put a pencil in the hand as homage to way back when I didn't even think about using a computer to color with. I still do it every now and again but not as much as I should. I know I can, so the computer isn't my crutch.

The left leg is raised towards the right leg and reaches across it; the lower left hand is stretched across the body and points to the upraised left foot which represents release from the cycle of birth and death. Interestingly, the hand pointing to the uplifted foot is held in a pose imitative of the outstretched trunk of an elephant. In Sanskrit this is known as the 'gaja-hasta-mudra (the posture of the elephant trunk), and is symbolic of Ganesha, Shiva's son, the Remover of obstacles.

Heheh This one isn't so symbolic, I put the tablet in this hand because really ;p the undo button is your friend, so there's no real obstacles. The foot is basically what will connect to the rear of whoever decides to say my artwork is theirs. ;3

Shiva dances on the body of a dwarf apasmara-purusha (the man of forgetfulness) who embodies indifference, ignorance and laziness. Creation, indeed all creative energy is possible only when the weight of inertia (the tamasic darkness of the universe) is overcome and suppressed. The Nataraja image thus addresses each individual to overcome complacency and get his or her own act together.

I chose the DA symbol instead of a dwarf because..lets face it..there are some of us on this site that just don't give a damn, they do nothing but point fingers , call names and hate particular groups of people for something stupid like who got on DTF.

The ring of fire and light, which circumscribes the entire image, identifies the field of the dance with the entire universe. The lotus pedestal on which the image rests locates this universe in the heart or consciousness of each person.

An' there you go.

Kami© ASW'03'