Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c19.100

v3.c19.100

Sivaduti. Śivadūti has a faded look and a face suggesting that of a jackal. Her body is emaciated, thin and wiry. It is ornamented with snakes; and she wears a garland of skulls. Her look is terrific. In her four hands she carries the rakta-pātra (a vessel to hold blood), khaḍga, śūla and māmsa (flesh). She is seated in the āliḍhāsana attitude; near her is seen a khaṭvāṅga. According to another authority, the complexion of Śivadūti is said to be that of the midday sun; she has three eyes and hands, in the left ones of which are held a pātra (vessel) for holding blood, the gadā, kheṭaka, pāśa and in the right ones the padma, kuṭhāra, khaḍga and aṅkuśa; she is adorned with ornaments set with all the nine gems and is worshipped by the gods, ṛishis and others.