Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c28.4

v4.c28.4

Surrounding the central shrine there should be eight *parivara-mūrtis*, named Rudrabhakta, Rudra-Caṇḍa, Caṇḍama, Mahābala, Vīrya, Ṭaṅkapāṇi, Īśasēvaka and Rudrakōpaja. They should all be of white complexion, big-bodied and with the pair of front hands held in the *añjali* pose and the back pair carrying in them *ṭaṅkas*. They may be represented either as standing or seated in the *vīrāsana* attitude and draped in elephant skins; they should have terrific countenances. Instead of Rudrabhakta and others, Indra and the other Dikpālakas may be made the *parivāras* of the temple of Caṇḍēśvara. They may be represented as actual anthropomorphic figures or with simple *pīṭhas* (as in the case of the Sapta-Mātṛkās, see Vol. I, Pl. CXX). In front of the temple of Caṇḍēśvara there should be, as in Śiva’s temples, a Nandi or couchant bull, and at the main entrance of the temple there should be two gate-keepers