The big Shiva statue facing ocean at Azhimala Mahadeva temple near Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala is known as Gangadhareshwara Shiva. The sculpture is 58-feet tall.
The massive structure depicts Shiva's hair flowing in the wind and holding Goddess Ganga. Unlike most statues with a face-frontal view, here Shiva gazes angularly at the sky, nerves and muscles delicately carved. The sculpture depicting windswept, tumultuous dreadlocks enclosing a triumphant Goddess Ganga was sculpted by P S Devadathan.
Azhimala Shiva Statue Facts
- The statue was inaugurated in 2021.
- The concrete statue is mounted on a rock at an altitude of 20 feet.
- The statue is located within the compound of Azhimala Shiva Temple.
- Shiva holds a trishul and damaru and has four hands.
- Chandra (crescent moon) and snakes are part of the sculpture. Chilum or the pipe used by Shiva and be seen in the sculpture.
- The statue is seen against the backdrop of Arabians Sea.
- It took six years to complete the statue.
- A Nandi sculpture will be sculpted near the statue in near future.
- One has to make a steep climb to reach the temple.
- This is the biggest Shiva sculpture in Kerala.