Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.s3.4

v2.c16.s3.4

THE four varieties of the images of Śiva known as the Sukhāsanamūrti, the Umāsahitamūrti, the Sōmāskandamūrti and Umāmahēśvaramūrti are usually met with in all Śiva temples which lay claim to some importance in Southern India. Of these, the Sukhāsanamūrti is described as follows in the Śilparatna, which is practically the same as the description given in all other authorities. The image of Sukhāsanamūrti is a seated figure with four arms, three eyes, a very handsome appearance suggestive of the rajōguṇa and of coral red complexion. The image should be seated erectly upon a bhadra-pīṭha with its left leg bent and resting upon the seat and the right one hanging below it. It must be clad in the skin of the tiger and also in silk garments; in its back right hand is to be the paraśu, and in its back left hand the mṛiga; the front right hand should be held in the abhaya pose, while the front left hand may be either in the *varada* or the *simhakarṇa* pose. In the right ear there should be either a *makara-kuṇḍala* or a *siṃha-kuṇḍala* and in the left ear, a *patra-kuṇḍala*; or there may be *vṛtta-kuṇḍalās* in both the ears. The head is adorned with a *jaṭāmakuṭa*, the fore-arms with *kaṅkaṇas* or bracelets shaped like serpents (*sarpa-kaṅkaṇas*) and the chest with *yajñōpavīta*; besides these, the image should be decorated with all other ornaments. It is imperative that neither Dēvī nor Skanda should be near the Sukhāsanamūrti. The *Pūrva-Kāraṇāgama* differs from the above description in one small detail, namely, it states that the right leg of the image should be bent and be resting upon the seat and the left one hanging.