Hindu Sculptures of god Shiva is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. Shiva is one of the six primary forms of the Divine in Smartism, a denomination of Hinduism that puts particular emphasis on six deities, the other five being Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesha, Kartikkeya and Surya. Shiva is also known as the destroyer or transformer in the Hindu trinity. Shiva is usually worshipped as the Shiva linga. In images, he is generally represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava upon the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the lord of the dance.

The stone carving tradition in India is one of the richest in the world. Stone carving is an ancient activity where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. Art of Stone Statues and Collectibles is the poetic expression of stone craft. Sculptures of Hindu deities, modelled on classical prototypes, continue to be made in many parts of India. In Tamilnadu such sculptures are made in granite. In Karnataka, exquisite figures carved in relief in black stone, with details engraved in fine lines, come out in greyish- white against the black surface. Softer stones are used in Orissa, which are easy to carve. The fully carved jali-worked, in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, are most intricately done. The artisans in Gujarat are engaged in the art of cutting and polishing semi-precious stones. One can see the life like images being skillfully sculptured in different varieties of stone across the state. In Jaipur, white marble is used for carving out statues of gods and goddesses as well as animal and human figures.