Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c26.57

v4.c26.57

Ṣaṇmukha: The colour of Ṣaṇmukha should be that of kuṅkuma (saffron) and he should be seated on the peacock. As his name indicates he should have six faces, twelve eyes and twelve arms; in the right hands he should have the śakti, bāṇa, the khaḍga, dhvaja, gadā and abhaya; and in the left ones dhanus, vajra, padma, kaṭaka-hasta and varada (and one more object which is perhaps the khēṭaka). Ṣaṇmukha is here mentioned as the nephew of Viṣṇu. The Srītatvanidhi mentions the śaṅkha, chakra, kukkuṭa, pāśa and hala as among the objects held by the hands of Ṣaṇmukha. It also states that on either side of Ṣaṇmukha there should be standing two dēvīs called Jayā and Vijayā.