Studies in Indian Art c11.s5.12

c11.s5.12

It may also be pointed out that a third fish placed horizontally below the two others is found in the terracotta figurines. It is visible also in the illustration of terracotta No. 2243 described above. We have also seen that in statuette No. 2523 of the Kushāṇa period discussed before a third fish figures separately from the *mīna-mithuna* and is carved near the upper end of the lotus-stalk. Perhaps the explanation may be found in the tradition of the Tantras where the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā as the two principal energy-systems and the Sarasvatī as the central one are symbolised as rivers, and naturally by means of fish.