The Development of Hindu Iconography c12.37.2

c12.37.2

XLIX) bears three symbols on the top section and the legend *Bañjulaka* in early Gupta characters in the lower one, the sections being separated by two closely parallel horizontal lines. Of the three symbols, the middle one is a *triśūla* with a short handle, that on the right ‘ resembling in shape the early Brāhmī character for *dhu* ’ is nothing but a longish water-vessel as seen in the hands of Siva appearing on the coins of Kanishka and Huvishka, and the other on the left ‘ looking like *ra* ’ is but a short staff as is placed in one of the hands of the same deity appearing on some of Huvishka’s coins. So, these are nothing but the three attributes usually held by Siva. A fragmentary sealing or seal impression of the early Gupta period found by Spooner at Basarh (ibid., pp. 121, 150, Pl. L, No. 672) shows ‘a very roughly sketched bullock running to right with the crescent moon above’ (the suggested reading Māradatta cannot be supported if one refers to the plate, and I can suggest no other reading as the plate is too indistinct); this is, of course, nothing but Śiva with crescent moon (Śaśāṅkaśekhara) in his theriomorphic form (Nandin). The unique seal impression (ibid., p. 129, No. 84, Pl. XLVI) shows on the upper edge of its slightly concave surface a small conventional śaṅkha in outline and a very good humped bull recumbent to left in the middle of the field; the legend is Rudradevasya.