Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c26.95

v4.c26.95

Pl. CXXVII illustrates the description of Shaṇmukha. This beautifully carved figure belongs to the Śiva temple at Paṭṭīśvaram. It has twelve arms of which two are held in the abhaya and the varada poses and the remaining ones carry the śakti, ṭaṅka, chakra, khaḍga and musala (or pāśa?) and vajra, dhanus, bāṇa, khēṭaka and śaṅkha. The figure has six heads of which three are visible in the photograph. Behind the figure of Subrahmaṇya is his peacock.