Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c11.83

Language: English

v1.c11.83.1

The image of Trivikrama may be sculptured, it is said, in three different ways, namely, with the left foot raised up to the level of (1) the right knee, or (2) to the navel, or (3) the forehead. These three varieties are obviously intended to represent Trivikrama as striding over the earth, the mid-world and the heaven-world respectively; and are all exemplified in sculptures also. The image of Trivikrama, with the left foot lifted up only to the level of the right knee is however, rarely met with among available pieces of sculpture. The rule is that Trivikrama images should be worked out in accordance with the uttama-daśa-tāla, measure, and their total height should be 124 aṅgulas. Trivikrama should have either four or eight hands. If there be only four arms, one of the right hands should be made to hold the śankha and one of the left hands the chakra; or it may even be that the left hand carries the *chakra* and the right hand the *śaṅkha*. The other right hand should be held up with the palm upwards, and the other left hand stretched out parallel to the uplifted leg; or this right hand may be in the *abhaya* or the *varada* pose. On the other hand, if Trivikrama is sculptured with eight arms, five of the hands should carry the *śaṅkha*, *chakra*, *gadā*, *śārṅga* (bow) and *hala*, the other three being kept as in the previous instance. The right leg of Trivikrama is to be firmly planted upon the earth; and the left should be used in taking the stride of world-measure.

v1.c11.83.2

The colour of the image is to be dark as that of the rain-cloud*; it should be clothed in red garments and decorated with all ornaments. Behind it there should be sculptured the tree called *kalpaka*, and Indra should be shown holding over Trivikrama’s head an umbrella. On either side Varuṇa and Vāyu should be made to wave *chāmaras*; and over them on the right and the left there should be the figures of Sūrya and Chandra respectively. Near these again there should be seen Sanyasa, Sanaka and Sanatkumāra. Brahmā should be made to take hold of the uplifted foot of Trivikrama with one of his hands and wash it with water flowing from a *kamaṇḍalu* held in the other hand; and the water flowing down from the washed foot of Trivikrama should be shown as being of a snow-white colour. Śiva should be sculptured with his hands in the *añjali* pose and as sitting somewhere in space above the height of the navel of Trivikrama.[*] Near the leg upon which Trivikrama stands, there should be the figure of Namuchi, a *rākshasa*, in the attitude of bowing in reverence to the great god Trivikrama. On the left Garuḍa should be shown as taking hold of Śukra, the *guru* of the *rākshasas*, with a view to belabour him for obstructing Bali in giving the gift asked for by the Brahmanical boy Vāmana; on the right Vāmana himself should be made to stand with an umbrella in his hand and ready to receive the promised grant of three paces of space.

v1.c11.83.3

Near him and opposite to him Bali should be shown as standing golden in hue and adorned with ornaments and carrying in his hands a golden vessel to indicate that he is ready to pour the water ceremonially in proof of his gift. Behind the emperor Bali there should be his queen. Above the head of Trivikrama the figure of Jāmbavān should be shown as sounding the drum called *bhēri* in Sanskrit so as to exhibit the joy of the celestial beings at their coming delivery from the rule of the *asura* emperor Bali. So says the Vaikhānāsāgama. But the *Śilparatna* requires that the image of Trivikrama should be sculptured as standing on the left leg, the right being stretched out for taking the measuring strides. Moreover the *Viṣṇudharmōttara* mentions that the following objects should be held in the hands by the image of Trivikrama, namely, the *daṇḍa*, *pāśa*, *śaṅkha*, *chakra*, *gadā*, and *padma* and it is required that all these should be sculptured beautifully. In this work we are warned against the *āyudhas* being represented like human beings, that is, as Āyudha-purushas.