South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c10.s3.9

c10.s3.9

Surapriyā. Surapriyā is a goddess seated in a meditative posture cross-legged and attended by a group of Saktis called Ashṭāngayoginīs. On either side of her are the deities Pūrṇāsvā and Pushkalā. Madhukara, a fat man with hanging belly, two hands and a smiling face, stands on the left side of the goddess. A pot of wine and a staff are also placed near her. The goddess is installed in the houses of prostitutes and small villages or towns, under different names such as Dēvabhāvi, Jñānabhāvi and Gītabhāvi.³