Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c19.165

v3.c19.165

Such is the description of her in the *Amsumad-bhēdāgama*; the *Vishṇudharmōttara*, as quoted in the *Vāchaspatya*, gives her six hands, the left ones of which are characterised by *abhaya*, *pustaka* (book) and *kamaṇḍalu*, while the right ones are characterised by *varada*, *sūtra* and *sruva*. It also adds that her dress is deer-skin. On the other hand, the *Pūrva-kāraṇāgama* agrees with the first work quoted above in ascribing only four hands to Brahmāṇī, although it states that she carries the *kamaṇḍalu* and *akshamālā* in two of her hands and holds the other two in the *abhaya* and *varada* poses.