Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c31.9

v4.c31.9

The *Suprabhēdāgama* and the *Kāraṇāgama* have each some slight variations in their description of Kṣētrapāla. The former authority mentions that the image of Kṣētrapāla should be adorned with a *nāga-yajñōpavīta* on its body and a garland of skulls on the head; that the eyes should be circular in shape and that if the image has four arms, there should be the *triśūla* and the *khaḍga* in the right hands and the *kapāla* and the *khēṭaka* in the left hands; if there are six arms, in the additional right hand there should be a *nāgapāśa* and in the additional left hand the *tōmara* (a weapon); and if there are eight arms, together with the articles mentioned above, the additional right hand should carry a *ḍamaru* and the additional left one the *khaṭvāṅga*.