Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c19.21

v3.c19.21

It was pointed out already that Dēvī is worshipped independently as the Supreme Deity under the name of Śakti in Śāktism, and that she is also worshipped in association with Śiva in Śaivism and Viṣṇu in Vaiṣṇavism. It has to be noted, however, that Śāktism is often considered to be more akin to Śaivism than to Vaiṣṇavism. Hence the characteristics of the Dēvī as an independent goddess and her Purāṇic associations may be noticed to have somewhat marked relations to the cult of Śiva-worship; and the study of Dēvī-icons confirms this view. The ordinary or common form of the image of the Dēvī as the consort of Śiva is given in the Uttara-kāmikāgama. There it is described as having four arms and three eyes and a pacific countenance. It should wear on the head a karaṇḍa-makuṭa and be clad in silk garments. In two of the hands the pāśa and the aṅkuśa should be carried, while the remaining two are to be held in the varada and the abhaya poses.