The Chalukyan Architecture of the Kanarese Districts c16.s1.14

c16.s1.14

These are the female counterparts of certain of the gods, and each is known by her cognizance below her. On most of these slabs each goddess holds a child on her lap to denote motherhood, but they are absent on this; and they are generally flanked by Śiva on one side and Gaṇapati on the other. Next to Śiva, in this case, is Brahmī or Brahmāṇī, the female counterpart of Brahmā, below her being Brahmā's vehicle, the goose. Next is Mahēśvarī, Śiva's counterpart, with his bull *Nandi*, beside whom is Vaiṣṇavī seated over Garuḍa. After her come Kaumārī, counterpart of Kārtikēya, with his peacock; Varāhī with a buffalo instead of the boar; Indrāṇī or Aindrī with the elephant, and, lastly, Chāmuṇḍā with a dog, but sometimes a dead body. This last "mother" is shown as a skeleton with long pendent breasts. Each goddess has four arms, and in their hands they carry symbols belonging to the gods they represent. The arrangement is not always the same.¹