Pallava Architecture, Part I (MASI 17) c2.67.3

c2.67.3

The left lower arm rests on the left hip and the right lower arm holds a hooded serpent, the body of which is entwined round Siva's chest and right arms. Siva's right foot is raised and rests on the head of an ugly little dwarf who is shown holding up his puny arm to support the mighty foot of the god. Similar little dwarfs are common in Buddhist art and are employed in the same manner with regard to Buddha. In the form of Natarāja, Siva's right foot is usually portrayed as crushing a similar little demon dwarf, Musalagan or Apasmāra by name, but here Siva is not represented as crushing the dwarf and the latter is shown supporting the god's foot. Kneeling round the figure of Siva are four worshippers, and above are two gandharras flying through the air and raising their hands in the act of adoration. On the right side of Siva's head, depicted as coming out of the clouds, is the head and bust of a little human figure with the hands raised in prayer. On the other side is a small animal, presumably a deer, in a recumbent attitude. The base of the panel is decorated with the Buddhist rail ornament similar in design to that found in the Amarāvati bas-reliefs in the Madras Museum [vide Frontispiece].