South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses c9.s8.7

c9.s8.7

A photograph from Mahabalipuram (fig. 68) is worth noting in this connexion. It shows Siva in the comfortably seated posture. In his upper hands, however, the symbols, evidently of *tanka* and the deer, are missing. The right lower is in the posture of *abhaya* and the left lower in that of *kataka*. It is also possible that the latter is resting freely on the thigh. Parvati is seated on Siva's left side, turning her face towards him and holding the child Skanda on her knee. In the upper corners are seen flying dwarfs, apparently holding flywhisks in their hands. The whole group is flanked by two four-armed gods raising respectively the upper left and right arms and pointing them towards Siva.