A sage performed extraordinary feats of devotion and Ganga agreed to come back to the parched earth. River Ganges also purifies all things. Expression on Shiva's face is calm, aloof, unaffected by the display of his own energy, the flow and change of time. Snake ornaments also symbolize his control over the powers of nature. Snake may also symbolize egotism which one must overcome in order to realize moksha.
Snake also symbolizes cycle of life and death.
The raised foot is out of the plane of the rest of the image as the raised foot takes the viewer out of the world of forms into the formless reality of moksha. Image rests on a lotus , the Indian symbol of the creative force of the universe. Crescent moon in crown of his matted hair represents highest principle of consciousness or illumination. Two different ear-rings Shiva wears symbolizes that he embodies both masculine and feminine aspects of existence. One worn by men is a combination of a fish and a crocodile, the other worn by women is a simple spiral.