Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c18.28

Language: English

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and the peculiarities of the modelling in general this image may well be taken to belong to a period anterior to the seventh century A. D. The image whose drawing is reproduced on Pl. LXXXVIII is found in the Śiva temple at Mēlchēri near Kāvēripākkam and belongs to the later Pallava period (A. D. 800). Here Sūrya may be seen standing upon a flat seat under which are worked out the seven horses and the driver Aruṇa. Fig. 2, Pl. LXXXVIII is a fine piece of sculpture found in Ellora. In this Sūrya is seen standing within a chariot drawn by the seven horses driven by Aruṇa. As in the case of all South Indian images of this god the hands of Sūrya are, in this instance also, lifted up to the level of the shoulders and carry each a lotus flower. On the right and left of Sūrya are Ushā and Pratyushā driving away the darkness before them with their bows and arrows. The chariot of Sūrya has here two wheels instead of only one as required by the Sanskrit authorities. This sculpture may be assigned to the eighth century. Of about the same time is the seated figure of Sūrya whose photograph is reproduced on Pl. LXXXIX. In this sculpture Sūrya is seated cross-legged in his chariot drawn by seven horses driven by Aruṇa. Around him are to be seen the figures of the goddesses Rājñī, Suvarṇā, Suvarchasā and Chhāyā, as also the figures of Daṇḍa and Piṅgala. The photographs reproduced on Pl. XC are interesting and represent the North Indian type of the image of the sun-god.

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The images of Sūrya illustrated by them wear a curiously shaped *kirīṭa-makuṭa* with a flat top, and have the characteristic round face associated with North Indian sculptures. Their hands are placed at the level of the hip and a lotus with a long stalk is held in each of them, the flower itself being at the level of the shoulders. In figs. 1 and 2, the goddesses Rājñī and Nikshubhā are seen on the extreme right and left of Sūrya, while nearer him on either side are Daṇḍa and Piṅgala. In fig. 1, the Aśvinī-dēvatās with horse-faces are shown seated in small niches specially provided for them, whereas in fig. 2, the figures of Ushā and Pratyushā are seen as if engaged in chasing darkness with their bows and arrows. Below these are seen the somewhat damaged figures of the goddesses Rājñī and Nikshubhā; and immediately below the feet of Sūrya are worked out the seven horses of the Sun-god's chariot. The images of Sūrya in figs. 1 and 2 on this plate have a broad belt round their waist which is perhaps the *avyaṅga* or *ahyaṅga* mentioned in the *Bhavishyat-purāṇa*. Fig. 3 contains the central image of Sūrya and surrounding it are the images of Daṇḍa and Piṅgala and the horse-faced Aśvini-dēvatās, as also Ushā and Pratyushā: the latter are as usual chasing away darkness with their bows and arrows, and are sculptured near the kāntimaṇḍala of Sūrya. The body of Sūrya is shown as covered with a thin fabric through which the body of Sūrya is clearly visible.

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The ahyanga in this figure is not a broad band but a narrow belt encircling the waist. The three figures on this plate are seen wearing socks and boots. The photographs reproduced on Pls. XCI and XCII are of Sūrya of the South Indian variety belonging to the Chālukya-Hoysaḷa country. The hands of Sūrya in these cases are lifted up to the level of the shoulders and are found to carry half-blown lotuses. There are the udara-bandha and the ahyanga, but no sort of footwear. In Pl. XCI the goddesses Rājñi and Nikshubhā are worked out as standing one on each side of Sūrya with a chāmara in their hands. In Pl. XCII the goddesses Ushā and Pratyushā are, as usual, driving away darkness with bows and arrows. Besides these, a number of small figures are carved probably to represent Daṇḍa and Piṅgala and others. On the top-most tier of the sculpture stand five figures resembling boys; these are perhaps the rishis Sanaka and others. In the tier below this first one are a set of musicians playing upon different musical instruments. In Pls. XCI and XCII are the seven horses, but in the latter alone is the figure of Aruṇa shown. Fig. 1, Pl. XCIII and figs. 1 and 2 on Pl. XCIV also belong to the South Indian variety of Sūrya and to the Tamil country. In these the absence of the attendant deities may be noticed; these images, excepting fig. 1, Pl. XCIV, wear udara-bandha and ahyanga; the figures of the seven horses carved below the seat of Sūrya are not seen in the remaining images. Fig.

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1, Pl. LXXXVIII is the reproduction of the photograph of a bronze statuette of Sūrya preserved in the Madras Museum. In this, Sūrya is seen seated upon a chariot having a single wheel drawn by seven horses and driven by Aruṇa. This figure is encircled by a prabhāvaḷi. The goddesses Rājñī waving a chāmara and Nikshubhā with what appears to be an umbrella are seen standing on either side of Sūrya. Fig. 2 on the same plate is a piece of sculpture belonging to the modern Bombay school. It is carved in marble; Sūrya is here shown with four hands carrying a lotus each in the back hands and the akshamālā and the kamaṇḍalu in the front ones, and seated upon a chariot drawn by seven horses driven by Aruṇa. Fig. 2, Pl. XCIII belongs to the North Indian [To face page 317]