South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c7.11

c7.11

An old picture of Brahmā from Seven Pagodas (fig. 6) and a later one from Kumbakōṇam (fig. 7) illustrate the standing posture described above. In the latter the left lower hand rests freely on the waist of the god and does not show the posture of conferring boons. The sitting attitude of Brahmā surmounted by a parasol and *chauris*—the symbols of supreme power—is beautifully illustrated by a picture from Tiruvādi near Tanjore (fig. 8). Another figure, which is unfortunately mutilated, shows the same position, but includes the standing figure of Sarasvatī on the right side of Brahmā (fig. 9). It is noticeable that in this figure the right upper hand of Brahmā is made to hold a lotus instead of the usual rosary. An image from Chidambaram (fig. 10) shows Brahmā on his swan vehicle folding two of his hands in a worshipping posture and holding the rosary and water-pot in the other two.