The Development of Hindu Iconography c13.49

c13.49

Reference ought to be made here, for the sake of completeness to various other modes of representing the deity. The *Āgamas* enumerate several kinds of precious and semi-precious stones like *sphaṭika* (crystal), *padmarāga* (lapis-lazuli), *vajra* (diamond), *vaidūrya* (cat’s eye), *vidruma* (coral), *puṣya*(?) and *ratna* (ruby). That crystal could be very skilfully handled and fashioned into beautiful forms is proved by the discovery of the excellently carved crystal bowl with fish handle among the relics of Buddha inside the big monolithic chest at Piprawa. This class of images really falls under the *ratnajā* group of the *Hayaśīrṣa* and the *śastrotkīrṇā* one of the *Matsyapurāṇa*, the latter