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South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s7: X

South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s7

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c9.s7.1

The form of Siva, decorated as a bridegroom, is called Kalyānasundaramūrti or Vāivāhikamūrti. Siva in this form is represented as a fair youth, with three eyes and four arms. He is clothed in the best of garments and wears a garland of blue lilies. On his right side stands Pārvatī, his bride, whose right hand he holds with his own. In his back hands are seen the symbols, *tanka* (or sometimes the axe) and the black buck. The left lower hand shows the boon-giving posture. His matted locks are made up in the fashion of a *jatāmakuta* on which is stuck the crescent of the moon. The general posture of the god is what is called *samabhanga*, or the medium bend, wherein the figure stands with the right leg slightly bent and the left leg placed firmly on the ground. The goddess on the right side is represented as a fully developed maiden. She has only two hands, one of which holds a lily. Brahmā, having in his four hands the rosary, water-pot, the sacrificial ladle (*srik*) and the spoon (*sruva*) (or, the book), is seated on a lotus flower in front of a square fire-pit facing northwards, and offering oblations to the sacrificial fire, which is burning in front with five flames. Mēnakā and Himavat, the parents of the goddess, are standing to her right, carrying a golden pot, from which they pour water into the hands of Siva and Pārvatī in token of giving away their daughter in marriage to him. The sages Sanaka and Sanandana stand to the left of the god with folded hands. Vishnu is present with the whole congregation of gods and goddesses. This description of Kalyānasundara is found in all its details in a figure from Elephanta. The Kāsyapa-Silpa of the Amsumat-Tantra and the Silpasangraha say that Vishnu in the *tribhanga* attitude faces south and stands on the north side of the sacrificial fire-pit with conch and discus in his back arms. He pours with his two other hands water from a gold pot into the hands of Siva and Pārvatī (fig. 65). The Mayamata describes Pārvatī as standing by the side of Lakshmī. It looks as if Mēnakā and Himavat are sometimes substituted by Lakshmī and Vishnu. A fine image of Kalyānasundara comes from the Chidambaram temple (fig. 66). Svayamvarā is the name given in the Silparatna to the figure of Pārvatī as a bride. She holds a garland of flowers and walks towards Sambhu (Siva) to choose him as her husband.

c9.s7.2

FIG. 63.—Kankālamūrti (metal) ; Tenkāsi.

c9.s7.3

FIG. 64.—Kankālamūrti; Dhārāsuram.

c9.s7.4

FIG. 65.—Kalyāṇasundara ; Madura.

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