Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c32.24

v4.c32.24

Nine photographs are given in illustration of the images of Brahmā; the originals belong to the various parts of India and are of different varieties; they exhibit the general natural characteristics of the country to which each belongs. Of these, the picture on Pl. CXLIV, is that of Brahmā found in the Śiva temple at Aihoḷe in the Bijāpūr district of the Bombay Presidency. Brahmā is here seated upon a padmāsana with his left leg hanging and the right one kept bent and supported on the seat. He has in his front right hand an *akshamālā*, in the back right hand a *pāśa* (?), in the back left hand a *kamaṇḍalu* and the front left hand is kept in the *varada* pose. He wears *jaṭā-makuṭas* on his heads and has an *yajñōpavīta*, *kaṭisūtra* and other ornaments. To the right and left are two women (whose arms alone are visible in the photograph) carrying flower garlands held over the head of Brahmā; probably they represent the goddesses Sarasvatī and Sāvitrī. At the base of the seat and on the left is seated a *rishi* with his hands held in the *añjali* pose (these alone are visible in the picture) and correspondingly on the right is a *hāmsa* (whose tail, one wing and one leg alone are visible in the photograph).