Elements of Hindu Iconography v1.c11.87

v1.c11.87

To illustrate the above descriptions there are given here eight photographed figures of Trivikrama. The first of these (Pl. XLVIII) represents a very beautiful piece of sculpture, in which unfortunately the legs are broken and the face is slightly mutilated. Below the uplifted leg of Trivikrama we may see Ādiśēsha, seated in the āliḍhāsana, with his hands in the añjali pose and with his face gently raised towards Trivikrama in adoration. His head is associated with a seven-headed hood of a serpent, on the coils of which he is himself seated. The delicately chiselled eyes, which are half closed in abstraction, the lips, the chin and the nose are all admirably worked out; and the general attitude of the figure is perfectly natural. Near the out-stretched hand of Trivikrama is shown the grinning face, disclosing a long row of teeth and two sharp and curved tusks at the corners of the mouth. Immediately below this face, there is the stem of what appears to be a tree, probably the kalpaka of the gods; its top and branches, however, are not to be found. This stem-like thing cannot be taken to represent the water which flowed out when the Brahmāṇḍa broke; for, it has on it the markings which are invariably associated with trees in conventional sculptures. The loin-cloths of both Trivikrama and Ādiśēsha are carved well and produce a good effect. This piece of sculpture appears to be as old as the beginning of the eighth century A. D. It deserves to be noted that here the left leg of Trivikrama is lifted far above the navel but is below the forehead.