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South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s5: VIII

South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s5

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VIII

c9.s5.1

The story of Lingōdbhava introduces us to another form BHIKSHĀ- of Siva, known as Bhikshātana, very often seen in South- TANA. Indian temples. When Siva cut off one of the heads of Brahmā, he incurred the sin of killing a Brāhmana; and the skull of Brahmā, it is stated, stuck to Siva’s palm and would not drop down. In order to get rid of the sin and this incriminating skull, Siva had to wander about as a naked beggar (*bhikshātana*) until he reached the place still known as Brahma-kapālam, on the slopes of the Himalayas, where he was released from the sin and the skull fell down of its own accord.¹ Local chronicles connect Bhikshātana with the Valuvūr and Tirutturaippūndi temples in the Tanjore district, and mention that the god Siva assumed a beautiful naked form and came out as a wandering beggar to test the fidelity of the wives of certain sages of the Dārukāvana forest, who were proud of their chastity. At the same time Vishnu is stated to have taken up the form of Mōhinī in order to tempt the sages. In accordance with this story, we occasionally see naked figures of women and of Mōhinī (fig. 61) depicted in close proximity to Bhikshātana. The tip of the lower right hand of the image touches the mouth of an antelope. The upper right hand holds the kettle-drum. A trident with peacock-feathers (not seen in the illustration fig. 62)²—or a big bunch of them placed across the shoulder, decorates the upper left arm, while the lower left, shows the boon-conferring posture. In it is also seen the *kapāla* (skull). A serpent encircles his waist and he stands on sandals. The right leg is slightly bent (*kunchita*) and the left is firmly placed in the attitude of one inclined to walk on. Above the right ankle is tied a bell (*bhringipāda*) which gives notice of the approach of the divine mendicant. A demon called Kundōdara, with protruding teeth, stands on the left side of the god, carrying on his head a begging bowl. The Bhikshātana-mūrti at Pērūr has eight arms and holds different weapons in each of them³. A fine figure of Bhikshātana (in Tamil, Pichchāndār) is found in a niche on the south wall of the central shrine of the big temple at Tanjore. A copper image of this god, with a goblin carrying the begging bowl and an antelope following, is said to have been presented to that temple by Lōkamahādēvī, the chief queen of Rājarāja I. This god was to witness every day the Sribali ceremony conducted in the temple.

c9.s5.2

¹ The *Mahābhārata* refers to a similar story and states that a *rishi* called Mahōdara got himself relieved of the skull of a giant that had stuck to his knee, by bathing in the sacred tank called Kapālamōchana-tīrtha.

c9.s5.3

² This image is published in the Archæological Survey Report, Madras, for 1911-12, Plate I, fig. 2, but without the two accompanying figures of the deer and the demon.

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³ The *Mayamata* says that this form of Siva may have four, six or eight arms,

c9.s5.5

FIG. 59.—Ēkapāda-Trimūrti ; Tiruvottiyūr.

c9.s5.6

FIG. 60.—Ēkapāda-Trimūrti; Tiruvānaikkāval.

c9.s5.7

FIG. 61.—Mōhinī (metal) ; Valuvūr.

c9.s5.8

FIG. 62.—Bhikshātanamūrti (metal) ; Valuvūr.

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