The Development of Hindu Iconography c20.s3.2

c20.s3.2

It may be mentioned here incidentally that verses 4-8 of Chapter 48, which have just been briefly noticed in connection with Śiva image and its ideology, supply us interesting and authoritative data in support of the true interpretation of the so-called Trimūrti of Elephanta suggested in Chapter XI (pp. 476-77) of this book. The east-facing Mahādeva-face is the placid central face of the Elephanta sculpture, for the temple faces east and the south-facing Bhairava-face is the terrific face to the right of this central face; the west-facing Bull-face (Nandivaktra, and Nandi is bull) should have been on the back of Mahādeva-face, but as it is a relievo-sculpture it is invisible. But the northern face, *i.e.*, the one to the left of the central Mahādeva-face is described in the text as Umāvaktra and thus its real character is definitely settled. The fifth face (*i.e.*, the Īśāna- or Sadāśiva-face) which symbolises *vyoma* or *ākāśa*, was to have been placed on the top, but as the *Rūpamaṇḍana* informs us that it cannot be seen even by the *yogīs* (*Pañcamam ca tatheśānaṃ yogināmapyagocaram*).