The Colas c36.76

c36.76

Fig. 61. (Pl. xxiv) Kaṅkāḷamūrti, in the Airāvatēśvara temple. Dārāsuram, Tanjore District. Now removed to the Art Gallery at Tanjore. Śiva wearing sandals stands in the *tribhaṅga* pose. Front hands play on a kettle-drum, the lower right hand is engaged with the deer and the upper left hand holds the bundle of bones across the shoulders. Wears high *jaṭāmakuṭa* and other ornaments. These are elaborate and combined with the acquiline nose indicate the beginnings of stylisation. There is a *gaṇa* on Śiva's left side. The modelling is excellent and the execution delicate. These go to make this figure imposing and one of the very fine specimens of the art of sculpture of the 12th century a.d.