A large inscribed silver-inlaid bronze figure of Shiva, 19th century

New York Private Collection, early 1980s.

This large bronze depicts Shiva, identified by two of his adjectives - lord of death, and holder of the Ganges. The script is Devanagari, the language is a regional form of Sanskrit, riddled with inconsistencies.

The legible part of the inscription, inscribed on the torso:

'Om namaḥ śivāya. Om, obeisance to Shiva'.

The inscribed by the left foot:

'Bhītarī om baijanātham si. Inside [the sanctum belong to] Lord Vaijanatha (Shiva)'. 

Inscribed on the pedestal:

śuce vāṇāgrahai nisikira-yutā-saṃvatsare caitra-mejye [..] nāga.

site tithau kuñja-dite trāț-jheva-su-samtta-keyyātvā

śrī-jagadambikā-caraṇāya buddhi-sthire mānase

śrī-mṛtyuñjaya-nāthasya devagṛhe gaṅgādhare kalpite

'On a bright lunar day in the month of Caitra (March-April), having duly consecrated it in the grove,

with steadfast mind and intellect [the sculpture] was offered at the feet of Jagadambika (Parvati)

and installed in the temple of Mrityunjaya (Lord of Death), the Gangadhara (Holder of the Ganges)'.