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South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s6: IX

South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s6

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IX

c9.s6.1

Kankālamūrti is a form closely allied to Bhikshātana and almost similar in appearance. According to the *Mayamata*, Kankālamūrti is draped in a fine cloth and is surrounded by lovely women. In his upper right hand he holds the peacock’s feathers and skeleton (*kankāla*) and in the upper left the *tanka*. A serpent is coiled round his loins; and he has a knife stuck into the girdle on the right side of his waist (figs. 63 and 64). He is generally attended by demons. Birds and beasts follow him in expectation of getting something to eat from his hands. The description given of Kankālamūrti in the *Kāsyapa-Silpa* of the *Amsumat-Tantra* is different. He has a *jatāmakuta*¹ decorated with serpents, the crescent-moon and flowers; he is holding the kettle-drum in his left fore-arm and a stick (to beat it with) in the corresponding right; the other right hand is in the pose *simha-karna* and touches the mouth of the antelope, while the left carries a bunch of peacock’s feathers on a staff. He also wears a necklace of skeletons (*kankāla*) which according to the *Āditya-Purāna* are supposed to be those of Vishnu in his various incarnations. Sometimes he may be represented also as carrying on his shoulder a *kankāla* (skeleton) tied by a rope to the staff.

c9.s6.2

¹ The braided hair (*jatā*) of Bhikshātana, on the other hand, is generally found in illustrations, arranged in a circle. *Jatāmakuta* is the arrangement of the *jatas* in the form of a *makuta* or crown. The former is, perhaps, what is known in the Silpa-works as *jatāmandala*.

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