Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c26.73

v4.c26.73

*Dēśika-Subrahmaṇya*: This is the aspect in which Subrahmaṇya taught Śiva, his own father, the significance of the sacred syllable *ōm*. As a teacher he should be represented as possessing one face, six arms and as seated upon the peacock. His head should be adorned with a *karaṇḍa-makuṭa*; two of his hands should carry the *śakti*, one an *akṣamālā* and two others kept in the *varada* and the *abhaya* poses; the remaining hand should perhaps be held in the *chinmudrā* pose. Śiva in the aspect of a disciple is called the *Śishya-bhāva-mūrti*. The *Mānasāra* gives a description of the form of *Śishyabhāvamūrti*. Śiva should be seated in front of his teacher Subrahmaṇya cross-legged, with one of his right hands kept closing his mouth and another kept on the chest in the *jñāna-mudrā* pose; the other two hands should carry the *ṭaṅka* and the *mṛiga*. He should have a white complexion and his face should resemble the full-moon. His head should be adorned with a crescent moon. Pārvatī, his consort, should also be standing by his side.