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.