The Colas c36.68

c36.68

Fig. 54. (Pl. xxiii) Sarasvatī?, in the niche on the north side of ambulatory around the sanctum in the Bṛhadīśvara temple, Tanjore. The goddess is seated in the *ardhaparyankāsana*. Right hand broken and the left holds the book of Universal Knowledge. Wears *jaṭāmakuṭa*, *kucabandha*, other ornaments. Beautiful umbrella and branches of a tree above. A *cāmaradhāriṇī* is seen on either side, and a gandharva hovering above. Facial expression suggests sublime spiritual feeling. All the classical qualities are marked here. Its wearing a *kucabandha*, occurring in a temple avowedly dedicated to glorify Śiva's sports, and its answering a verse in the *Lalitāsahasranāma* may suggest that it represents a form of Umā rather than Sarasvatī.