# South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses

SOUTH-INDIAN IMAGES OF GODS AND
GODDESSES
The Tanjore Temple.
SOUTH-INDIAN IMAGES
OF
GODS AND GODDESSES
BY
H. KRISHNA SASTRI, b.a., Rao Saheb,
Assistant Archeealogical Superintendent for Epigraphy,
Southern Circle.
Published under the authority of the Government of Madras.
MADRAS GOVERNMENT PRESS.
1916.
PREFACE.
THIS little book owes its origin to a suggestion made by His Excellency Lord Carmichael, when he was Governor of Madras in the year 1912. He felt that, while there was a multitude of books dealing with Hindu religion and incidentally with Hindu iconography, there was no popular handbook which would give information about the images one commonly sees in temples or museums in Southern India, and that it would be a distinctly useful thing to supply that want. The Madras Government entrusted the task to me, presumably because my official duties bring me very often to visit the various temples in the Province and to study and classify the images found therein.
When I accepted the task, I was not fully aware of the difficulties that lay before me. In the first place, there were very few printed books, in Sanskrit or in translations, that gave the orthodox description and significance of the images set up in temples. And when I managed to collate notes from a few old manuscripts treating of this subject, it was almost impossible in several instances to reconcile the discrepancies which they showed or even to understand the technical terms which abounded in them. In some cases, the description of a particular image found in the local chronicles or Sthala-Puranas could not be traced in the Agamas. I am not altogether sanguine that I have steered clear of these difficulties and succeeded in presenting a clear and readable account to the average reader.
​ My chief source of information in compiling this book has been an excellent work entitled "Tattvanidhi," published by the Sri-Venkatesvara Steam Press at Bombay, and compiled by His Highness the Maharaja Mummadi Krishnaraja Vodeyar Bahadur of Mysore. A short bibliography of other Sanskrit works consulted by me is given at page xv.
Among the many friends who have kindly helped me in this task, my special thanks are due to Sir J. H. Marshall, Kt., C.I.E., M.A., LITT.D., F.S.A., Director-General of Archaeology, Simla, and his assistant Mr. V. Natesa Aiyar, B.A., for extracts from ancient manuscripts on the subject of Indian iconography; to Mr. A. H. Longhurst, Archaeological Superintendent, Southern Circle, for the numerous illustrations without which the book would be almost unintelligible; and to Mr. C. S. Anantarama Aiyar, the Under Secretary to the Government of Madras, for much valuable criticism which has been of great assistance to me. My thanks are also due to Mr. T. Fisher, Superintendent, Government Press, Madras, for his many kind suggestions about the get-up of the book and a practical arrangement of the numerous illustrations.
Ootacamund,
H. KRISHNA SASTRI.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
introductory.
Temples and images, the subject of Agamas and Silpa-Sastras; origin of stone temples in the Pallava period (page 1f.)—Their development in the Chola period (2)—Signs to distinguish a Saiva temple from a Vaishnava temple; ritual generally followed in temples; annual festivals (3f.)—Ritual in temples of village-deities (7) 1—9
CHAPTER II.
brahma.
Not worshipped as the chief deity in a temple; his images and general description (10)—Various forms; illustrations (11) 10—16
CHAPTER III.
vishnu.
His general description (17)—Incarnations (22)—Boar incarnation and the reverence paid to it by the early South-Indian kings (22f.)—Man- lion incarnation and its varieties (24f.)—Dwarf incarnation (3Of.)—Rama incarnation (35f.)—Krishna incarnation and varieties (37f.)—Buddha and Kalki incarnations (47)—Anantasayin, Padmanabha or Ranganatha (50f.)— Jalasayana, Vaikuntha-Nartyana, Lakshmi-Narayana, Garuda-Narayana and Yogesvara- Vishnu (52f.)—The 24 general forms of Vishnu; Panduranga, Hayagriva and Venkatesa (5Sf.)—Pradyumna or Manmatha, Vishvaksena and Garuda (62f.)—Hanuman (64f.)—Sudarsana (66f.)—Saligrama stones (70f.) 17—71
CHAPTER IV.
siva.
His temples and their non-sectarian nature, linga, symbol of Siva; its significance, description and varieties (72f.)—Subsidiary images
pages
Vrishārūdha (113f.)—Chandrasēkharamūrti (114f.)—Ardhanāri (120f.)—Harihara (125)—Gajahāmūrti (125f.)—Gangādhara (129f.)—Kālaharamūrti (132f.)—Nīlakantha (137f.)—Tripurāntakamūrti (140f.)—Kirātārjunamūrti (141f.)—Chandēsānugrahamūrti (143f)—Sarabhamūrti (147f.)—Pāsupatamūrti, Rakshōghnamūrti, Aghoramūrti, Bhairava and his various forms, Mahākāla and Kālāgni-Rudra (148f.)—Vīrabhadra and his various forms (155f.)—Kshētrapāla (159f.)—Chandēsa, Nandīsa, Bhringīsa and Jvaradēva (161f.)—Ganapati and his various forms; his popularity (165f.)—Skanda and his different forms; the antiquity of his worship (177f.) 72—183
CHAPTER V.
sakti-goddesses.
Their significance (184)—Their division into three classes and their worship on chakras, yantras and pithas (185)—Sarasvati and her different forms (1857.)Lakshmi and her different forms (187f.)—The eight energies of Vishnu personified (189)—General description of Gauri or Pārvati (190)—The Saptamātrikās (1901.)—Sakti goddesses holding Vaishnavite symbols: Chāmundā, Durgā, Mahishāsuramardini and Mahā-Lakshmi (196–211)—Kālarātri, Tvaritā, TripuraBhairavi, Vajraprastārini, Surā, Surapriyā, Srividyādēvi, Prānasakti, Svasthāvēsini, Satruvidhvamsini, Ugra-Tārā, Dhūmrāvati, Sūlini, Pratyangira, Sitalādēvi, Trikantakidevī, Bhūtamātā and Sivadūti (201f.)—Jyështha-Lakshmi (216f.)—Bālā-Tripurasundari, Saubhāgyabhuvanēsvari, Annapūrā, Gāyatri, Sāvitri and Sarasvati, TulajāBhavāni, Rājamātangi, Laghusyāmalā, Vāruni, Kurukullā and Vindhyavasini (218f.)—Lalitā, Tripurasundari and Rājarājēsvari; their worship on Balā-yantra and Sri-chakra (220f.) 184—222
CHAPTER VI.
village deities.
Their origin traceable to Tantrik goddesses; names of a few of them (223f.)—Their worship and worshippers (226)—Ceremonies peculiar to temples of village deities; Draupadi temples and karagam (226f.)—Sati-worship and the fire-walking ceremony (229)—Village gods: Aiyanār and Karuppannasāmi (229f.)—Hero-worship; devil-dances (234) 223—234
CHAPTER VII.
miscellaneous deities.
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Frontispiece. The Tanjore temple.
Fig. 1. Gopura, Narasimha temple; Mangalagiri . . 4
2. Back view of central shrine, Siva temple; Gangaikonda-sōlapuram ...... 5 ,, 3. Haridranadi tank ; Mannargudi ... 6 ,, 4. Processional images (metal) ; Madura ... 8 ,, 5. Lamp patterns and /w/Vf-utensils ; Uttattur . . 9 6. Brahma; Seven Pagodas . . . .12 7. Do. Kumbakonam .... 13 8. Do. Tiruvadi . . . . .14 ,, 9. Brahma and Sarasvati ; Kandiyur . . . 15 10. Brahma on swan vehicle ; Chidambaram . . 16 ii. Vishnu (Ashtabhuja) ; Conjeeveram ... 18 ,, 12. Vishnu; Bellary . . . . . .19 ,, 13. Do. Paramesvaramangalam . . . 20 ,, 14. Vishnu and his consorts ; Ariyambakkam . . 21 ,, 15. Boar incarnation of Vishnu ; Seven Pagodas . 23 ,, 16. Narasimha bursting forth from the pillar; Ahobalam . 25 17. Ugra-Narasimha do. . 27 ,, 1 8. Do. (metal); Madras Museum . . 28 19. Yoga-Narasimha ; Tir,upati Hill ... 29 ,, 20. Trivikrama ; Seven Pagodas . 31 21. Do. Kumbakonam .... 33 22. Vamana ; Namakkal . . . . .34 23. Rama and group (metal) ; Ramesvaram . . 36 24. Krishna tied to a mortar ; Penukonda . . -39 25. Butter-dance of Bala-Krishna (metal) ; Madras Museum 40 26. Serpent-dance of Kaliya-Krishna (metal) do. 42 27. Venu-Gopala do. 44 28. Madana-Gopala ; Little Conjeeveram . . .45 29. Govardhana-Krishna ; Seven Pagodas . . 46 30. Krishna on the punnai-tieQ (wood) ; Kumbakonam . 48 31. Parthasarathi teaching Bhagavad-Gitdto Arjuna ; Pushpa- giri . . 49 32. Anantasayin ; Seven Pagodas . . . 51 33. Vaikuntha-Narayana ; Namakkal ... 53 ​PAGE
Fig. 34. Lakshmi-Narāyana; Nāmakkal . . . .54
35. Garuda-Narayana; Chidambaram ... 56 36. Garuda-Narayana and Gajendramoksha ; Kumbakonam . 57 37. Yogesvara-Vishnu ; Huvinahadagalli . . 58 38. Do. (?) Kumbakonam . 59 , 39. Panduranga; Tirupati .... 60 40. Do. Ahobalam . . . .61 ,, 41. Rati-Manmatha ; Chidambaram ... 63 42. Garuda ; Tanjore ... 65 ,, 43. Sudarsana ; Tirupati .... 67 44. Do. back view ; do. . . . .68 45. Do. front and back view (metal) ; Dadikkombu 69 46. Sahasra-linga ; Tiruvottiyur . . . -75 ,, 47. Panchamukha-linga ; Tiruvanaikkaval . 78 48. Nataraja (metal) ; Panchanadakkulam . . .80 49. Do. Ramesvaram . . . 81 50. Urdhva-tandava ; Tiruppanandal . . .83 51. , Patanjali; Chidambaram .... 85 , 5 2 - Vyaghrapada do. . .... 86 53. Kalika-tandava (metal) ; Nallur ... 87 ,, 54. Dakshinamurti ; Avur . . . . . 91 55. Vlnadhara-Dakshinamurti ; Chidambaram . . 92 ,, 56. Yoga-Dakshinamurti ; Conjeeveram . . . 94 57. Dakshinamurti ; Tiruvengavasal ... 95 58. Lingodbhava ; Tanjore . . . . .96 59. Ekapada-Trimurti ; Tiruvottiyur ... 98 ,, 60. Do. Tiruvanaikkaval . . .99 6i. Mohini (metal) ; Valuvur .... 101 ,, 62. Bhikshatanamurti (metal) do. . . . 102 63. Kankalamurti (metal); Tenkasi . . . 104 ,, 64. Kankalamurti ; Dharasuram . . .105 65. Kalyana-Sundara ; Madura .... 106 66. Kalyana-Sundara and Svayamvara ; Chidambaram 108 67. Somaskanda (metal) ; Sivankudal . . . 109 68. Somaskanda ; Seven Pagodas . . m ,, 69. Umasahita do. . . . .112 70. Vrishavahana ; Chidambaram . . . 115 71. Do. (metal) ; Vedaranyam . . .116 72. Chandrasekhara (metal) , Tiruvottiyur . . 117 73. Chandrasekhara ; Tanjore . . . .118 74. Chandrasekhara (Alinganamurti) ; Bagali . . 119 75. Ardhanari ; Madura . . . . .121 ,, 76. Do. Kumbakonam . . 122 ​PAGE
Fig. 77. Ardhanāri; Tanjore . .... 123
78. Do. Tiruchchengōdu . . . .124 ,, 79. Do. Dharasuram . . . . 126 ,, 80. Do. Tiruvadi . . . . .127 81. Sankaranarayana ; Namakkal .... 128 82. Gajahamurti ; Dharasuram . . . .130 ,, 83. Do. Tirutturaippundi . . . 131 84. Gangadhara ; Gangaikondasolapuram . . 133 ,, 85. Do. (metal) ; Vaidlsvarankoyil . . 134 ,, 86. Gangadhara ; Tanjore ..... 135 87. Do. Trichinopoly . . . . 136 ,, 88. Kalaharamurti ; Pattisvaram . . . .138 89. Do. Chandragiri . . . . 139 ,, 90. Tripurantakamurti ; Chidambaram . . . 142 ,, 91. Kiratarjunamurti ; Pushpagiri . . 144 ,, 92. Do. Chidambaram .... 145 ,, 93. Chandesanugrahamurti ; Gangaikondasolapuram . 146 M 94. Sarabhamurti ; Dharasuram .... 149 ,, 95. Pasupatamurti . Chidambaram . . 150 96. Aghoramurti ; Pattisvaram . 152 ,, 97. Bhairava do. . . . . 153 98. Kala-Bhairava ; Durgi . . . .154 99. Kalagni-Rudra (?) do. .... 156 100. Virabhadra throwing the head of Daksha into the fire ; Tanjore . . . . . . .157 101. Virabhadra; Mudikondam .... 158 102. Kshetrapala ; Tiruvarangulam .... 160 103. Chandesa ; Tiruvottiyur .... 163 ,, 104. Nandisa and his consort (metal) ; Valuvur . . 164 105. Bhringi ; Srisailam ..... 166 1 06. Jvaradeva ; Bhavani . . .167 107. Ganapati standing ; Lepakshi . . . . 169 108. Do. (metal) ; Pattisvaram . . .170 109. Do. seated; Siyamangalam . . 171 no. Do. dancing ; Gangaikondasolapuram . . 172 in. Maha-Ganapati ; Madura . . . . 174 112. Heramba-Ganapati (metal) ; Negapatam . .175 113. Skanda ; Tiruvottiyur ... .179 114. Do. (Shadanana) ; Madura .... 180 115. Skanda and his consorts ; Samayapuram . . 181 116. Do. fighting with giants ; Chidambaram . . 182 117. Sarasvati ; Bagali ..... 186 nS. Samilnya-Lakshmi ; Seven Pagodas . . . iSS ​Fig. 119.
Fig.„ 120.
Fig.„ 121.
Fig.„ 122.
Fig.„ 123.
Fig.„ 124.
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Fig.„ 144.
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Fig.„ 146.
Fig.„ 147.
Fig.„ 148.
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Fig.„ 150.
Fig.„ 151.
Fig.„ 152.
Fig.„ 153.
Fig.„ 154.
Fig.„ 155.
Fig.„ 156.
Fig.„ 157.
Fig.„ 158.
Parvati; Bolumampatti Do. Paramesvaramangalam . Do. in penance ; Pattisvaram The Seven Mothers ; Tanjore Chamunda (Mahakali) ; Tiruchchengodu Durga ; Seven Pagodas .... Do. do. ... Do. Srimushnam Do. Dharasuram Durga-Lakshml Tirumalisai Mahishasuramardini ; Gangaikondasolapuram Do. Dharasuram Do. Durgi Durga-Mahishasuramardim ; Seven-Pagodas Pratyangira ; Tiruchchengodu Do. (?) (metal) ; Tiruppalatturai Jyeshtha ; Tiruvellavayil Saubhagyabhuvanesvan ; Dharasuram Rajarajesvarl ; Ramesvaram Mutyalamma ; Avani .... Group of images in the Draupadi-amman temple Kumbakonam .... Aiyanar (metal) ; Tiruppalatturai Do. Valuvur Do. Ramesvaram Surya ; Kumbakonam .... Do. Chidambaram Rahu and Ketu ; Chidambaram Indra Agni Yama Nairrita Varuna ; Vayu K uber a do. do. do. Ahobalam .... Lepakshi ..... do. . do. ..... Adisesha ; Chidambaram .... Kinnari ; Ramesvaram .... Dvarapala ; Tiruvottiyur .... Do. Dharasuram .... Narada ; Chidambaram . . . Agastya do. Gaulisvara (Gaudapada ?) and Sankaracharya ; Tiru- vottiyur . .... PAGE 191 192 193 J 95 198 200 201 203 204 205 207 208 209 2IO 214 2I 5 217 219 221 225 228 231 232 233 237 2 3 8 240 242 244 245 246 247 249 250 252 253 255 256 257 2 5 8 260 ​PAGE
Fig. 160 (metal).—(a) Garuda; (b) Vedānta-Dēsika; (c) Vishvaksēna; (d) Rāmānujāchārya; (e) Tirumangai-Ālvar; Nāmakkal ..... 261
Fig.„ 161. Mānikkavāsagar (metal); Tiruvarangulam 263
Fig.„ 162. Kāraikkāl-Ammai; Madura 264
Plate I. Pedestals, postures, etc. 269
Plate„ II. Pedestals,do. postures, etc.do. 270
Plate„ III. Pedestals,do. postures, etc.do. 271
Plate„ IV. Pedestals,do. postures, etc.do. 272
SANSKRIT BOOKS CONSULTED.
Mayamata.
Mānasāra.
Chaturvargachintāmani (Hēmādri).
Brihatsamhitā (Varāhamihira).
Kāsyapa-Silpa (from the Bhānumat or Amsumat-Tantra).
Brāhmīya-Silpa.
Silparatna.
Silpasangraha.
Silpasāra.
Tattvanidhi (with numerous quotations; printed at the Sri Venkatesvara Steam Press, Bombay).
Sabdakalpadruma (the Encyclopædia of Sanskrit Literature by Rājā Rādhākānta Deo; printed in Calcutta).
Bhāga vata-Purāna.