South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c8.s2.3

c8.s2.3

¹ Parasurāma, "the axe-bearer, Rāma" is supposed to be the founder of the west-coast country, having miraculously reclaimed it from the encroaching sea. He is, therefore, often worshipped in Malabar in special shrines dedicated to him. Siva temples with the name Parasurāmēśvara are common and these are believed to owe their existence to Parasurāma. In the Kachchhapēśvara temple at Conjeeveram, on a stone set up under a tree, there is a representation of the Tortoise incarnation of Vishnu, worshipping Siva. This is reproduced by Mr. Rea in his Madras Archæological Survey Report for 1910-11, Plate V, fig. 1.