The Colas c36.46

c36.46

Fig. 37. Śiva, in a niche on the south wall of central shrine. Tirukkaṭṭaḷai, ‘Pudukkottah State.’ It stands on simple pedestal. It is slender and perfectly proportionate. Wears *jaṭāmakuṭa*, broad necklace, *udarabandha* and beautiful waist-band. Holds a bow in his left hand and an arrow (?) in the right hand. The two other hands are not clearly seen. The face, looking down, has the expression of *vismaya*. Described as Vīṇādhara Dakṣiṇāmūrti in the *Pudukkottah Manual*. But the features noted above may warrant identification as Tripurāntakamūrti. (*Cf.* similar features in the Tripurāntakamūrti fig. 39 below).