The Adiyogi Shiva – the Largest Bust Sculpture in the World

In the beautiful foothills of the Velliangiri Mountains in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, an immense head and shoulders seems to burst from the ground, dominating the surrounding landscape.  This jaw-dropping spectacle – a male, eyes closed in contemplation, with lustrously dark features, full lips and flowing locks of hair epitomising an ideal of both male beauty and masculine voluptuousness - is Shiva, the Adiyogi (the First Yogi). Little wonder that people flock from all over India and beyond to see this sculpture, listed in the Guinness World Records as the largest bust sculpture on the planet. Image

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The sculpture looks like it is made from black granite, but it was built using thousands of kilograms of steel plates and pipes.  In fact, it weighs in at approximately 500 tonnes.  In order to give the bust its rich, deep appearance it is coated with dark matte finish paint – a job which one can only imagine as never ending to maintain the exquisite exterior.