The Colas c36.61

c36.61

In the lower storey the following sculptures are found from left to right. (1) Kankāḷamūrti accompanied by Pārvatī and a *gaṇa*. Pārvatī is done in a charming manner. (2) Dakṣiṇāmūrti seated on a hill. (3) Lingōdbhava on *padmāsana*. Quite unusually Viṣṇu, of the same size as of Śiva, stands on the left while similarly Brahmā stands on the right. Both of these are in *añjali* pose which indicates their defeat. Icons of this kind, of later date, show Viṣṇu in the form of a boar or a man with a boar's head burrowing down to see Śiva's feet and Brahmā either in the form of a swan or riding it going up to see Śiva's head. (4) Kālārīmūrti with many hands. His left foot is raised in the *ūrddhvajānu* pose and his front hands are in the posture of destroying Kāla (not distinct here). This type is simplified in the examples at Tanjore and Koḍumbāḷūr. The figure at Koḍumbāḷūr is superb. (5) Tripurāntakamūrti at the extreme right. This is a splendid representation. The pose recalls that of the Rāma figures and Tripurāntaka figures from Tanjore and Māyūram. As mentioned above this icon is a great favourite of the Cōḷas. Rājarāja the Great was particularly struck by this and therefore had not only filled a number of niches on the exterior of the walls of the sanctum of the Tanjore temple with Tripurāntaka figures but had dedicated the entire wall space of a room in the temple's ambulatory for a magnificent representation in painting of the complete scene depicting Śiva's great fight with the Tripurāsuras.