Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.s3.17

v2.c16.s3.17

Figs. 1 and 2, Pl. XXI, are to illustrate the aspects known as the Umā-sahita-mūrti, as also the Sukhāsanamūrti. If the Dēvī were absent in both the instances, the image of Śiva would have passed for the Sukhāsanamūrti; as they are, they are Umāsahita-mūrtis. In both the instances the back right hand keeps the paraśu and the back left hand, the mṛiga; whereas the front right hand is in the abhaya pose and the front left hand in the siṃhakarṇa pose. In the one case, the left hand of the Dēvī is kept resting on the seat, whereas in the other it is held in the siṃhakarṇa pose. The stone image is older than the bronze one. Figs. 1 and 2, Pl. XXII are two splendid pieces of sculpture; the first belongs to the Śiva temple at Madeour and the second was recently discovered as a treasure trove in Nellore. Both of them are very good specimens of the Sōmāskanda-mūrti. The textual descriptions are carried out with scrupulous accuracy and the workmanship is superb. In the first piece, the left hand of the Dēvī rests on the pīṭha and in the second piece, it is held in the varada pose. In both, the child Skanda is in the dancing attitude, with both his hands held in the siṃhakarṇa pose. Attention may be drawn to the makara-kuṇḍala in the right ear and the patra or vṛitta-kuṇḍala in the left ear of Śiva in both the pieces of sculpture. Illustrations beginning from Pl. XXIII to XXIX