The Indian Buddhist Iconography, Mainly Based on the Sadhanamala and Other Cognate Tantric Texts of Rituals c18.s8.5

c18.s8.5

The two images of Parnaśabarī (Figs. 173 and 174) have been discovered by Mr. N. K. Bhattasali ¹. These two images follow the Sādhana most accurately in all details; the angry laugh has been correctly depicted in the three faces, and the belly slightly protrudes. To the right and left are two divinities, Hayagrīva, the Hindu god of Fever, and Śītalā, the Hindu goddess of small-pox, and they are represented in the images as flying in opposite directions to escape the wrath of Parnaśabarī. The prostrate figures under the feet are the Diseases and Pestilences, in human shape. The figure under the right leg, apparently, is a man attacked with small-pox, as we can judge from the circular marks all over his body; the other figure under the left foot, is probably attacked with some fatal disease. Both the images of Parnaśabarī are decidedly very fine specimens of the Bengal school of art.