South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s13.8

c9.s13.8

The size of the image of Chandēsa must, it is stated, be small so as to reach the arms of Siva and is to be bedecked with the ornaments of children. The Kāsyapa-Silpa states that between the god and the goddess may be placed the figure of Skanda, at the sculptor's option. "Next to Dakshināmūrti," it says, "the figure of Chandēsānugraha is the most famous." A group of images under the name Chandēsavaraprasādadēva was set up in the Tanjore temple by king Rājarāja I, and consisted of (1) the god Chandēsavaraprasādadēva with four arms, (2) the demon Musalagan with two arms, (3) the goddess Umāparamēsvarī, (4) Mahādēva (the linga worshipped evidently by the boy Chandēsa), (5) the devotee with two arms, (6) his father also with two arms represented as having fallen down and lying on the ground and (7) Chandēsa receiving with his two arms the boon of a flower-garland from Siva.¹ This description agrees with the story related in the Periyapurānam, a compilation of the thirteenth century A.D. The Kāranāgama, whose date is not known, was also apparently familiar with the story.