South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c7.10

c7.10

⁴ Visvakarma has ten hands and holds the characteristic symbols of the three gods Brahmā, Vishnu and Mahēśvara. One of his symbols mentioned in the *Silpasāra* is the *māna-daṇḍa*, ‘measuring rod.’ He rides on an elephant and has his body besmeared with ashes. Another such god, who partakes of the nature of all the three gods, is the Sun. Still another is Dattātrēya who granted the objects of his desire to sage Atri. He is represented as a wandering mendicant with ashes rubbed over his body and followed by the four Vēdas in the form of four dogs. Dattātrēya is considered to be a form of Vishnu.