Studies in Indian Art c14.s2.5

c14.s2.5

In the second row is also a Saptamātṛkā relief (3'—4" × 10½") with Vīrabhadra on right and Gaṇapati on left, followed by two more sculptures, viz., one showing a standing male figure (ht. 1'—10½" × 11½") with a bull behind him, and the other a figure of six-armed Mahiṣāsuramardinī. The figure in the second image is two-armed with a bunch of flowers in the left and a club in the right hand (now mutilated). He wears a *kirīṭa mukuṭa*, pearl ear-rings, *ekāvalī* pearl necklace, armlets and wristlets. The hair loosely fall in frizzles and a scarf is worn on the arms. A short *dhotī* is secured by a *mekhalā* knotted in front with a loop over a floral pattern from which depends an elegant chain going round like festoons, which shows the tassel ends falling on both knees. The figure is well-finished and gracefully posed; it reveals the post-Gupta style and may be assigned to the early 8th century A.D.