Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c18.39

v3.c18.39

variety; the figure of Sūrya has a face belonging to the pān type. Strangely enough it is seen holding the hands as high as its shoulders and the lotuses carried in them are at the higher level than the shoulders. Near the legs of the image of Sūrya are those of Daṇḍa and Piṅgala and the goddesses Rājñī and Nikshubhā and one other between the legs of Sūrya; it is difficult to say whom this figure is meant to represent. Fig. 1, Pl. XCIV belongs to the Hoysaḷa country; the image of Sūrya has in this instance four hands, in the front two of which are the lotuses and the back ones are seen carrying the chakra and the śankha. The seven horses and Aruṇa are sculptured below the foot of Sūrya. Pl. XCV represents the toraṇa or gateway of a Sūrya temple. On the columns and the archway of this toraṇa are sculptured the figures of eleven Ādityas, which together with the one in the central shrine make up the usual number of twelve Ādityas. Some of the Ādityas have two, others four goddesses attending upon them; each one is enshrined in a small fane and are seen carrying lotuses in their hands. All except the central figure on the archway are standing; the central figure is seated in a chariot to which are yoked the seven horses characteristic of Sūrya. In the niches below the two Ādityas on either side of the central one are some figures whose significance is not known.