Eastern Indian School of Mediaeval Sculpture c8.s2.114

c8.s2.114

The presence of the figure of the Dhyānī Buddha Amitābha over the head of this figure along with some of the emblems held in the hands proves the affinity of this class of images between Vaishṇava images proper and Lokeśvaras. A fresh link in the chain is supplied by the fourth image of this group which is made of metal and was discovered near the village of Sāgardighi in the Murshidabad District. The find at Sāgardighi of which this image formed a part, consisted of three beautiful images, one of which is a standing figure of Vishnu of the ordinary northern type.³ The second figure is peculiar, though the symbols in the hands prove that this also is an image of Vishnu. The specimen represents a male seated in that particular posture which Buddhist Sādhanas call the mahārāja-līlā. The objects held are the wheel, the lotus, the conch and the mace. In this case the mace and the conch, instead of being held directly in the hands of Vishnu, have been placed on fully blossomed lotus flowers held by the deity.¹ The third specimen from Sāgardighi represents a male standing under a serpent canopy of seven hoods, with one head and six hands. The emblems held in the hands are:—