Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c11.83.2

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.