Page:South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses.djvu/145

Rh behind) and a circle of light in the back ground. This is apparently an unusual form (fig. 79). Still another unusual form comes from Tiruvādi near Tanjore, in which the right half is woman and the left half male (fig. 80).

A similar composite image of Siva is the one called Harihara or Sankaranārāyana. In this image the left half is Vishnu and the right half Siva. Accordingly we see on the left side of the figures of Harihara, the conch, the pearl-necklace, the mark Srivatsa and the brilliant ear-ring characteristic of Vishnu and on the right side the skull, the garland of bones, the river Gangā, the serpent coil of the ear-ring and the trident or axe, characteristic of Siva. So too the colour of the body is blue on the left and white on the right. Similarly, Garuda, the vehicle of Vishnu, may be seen standing on the left and the bull of Siva on the right. Sankaranāyinārkōyil in the Tinnevelly district has a famous temple dedicated to this combined form of Sankara (Siva) and Nārāyana (Vishnu). The illustration given (fig. 8l) comes from Nāmakkal. A similar but more finished figure of Sankaranārāyana is found at Chidambaram in which attendant sages and demi-gods are also depicted.

Fine images of Siva represented as the slayer of the elephant-demon are not uncommon in South-Indian temples. In this form he receives the name Gajahāmūrti. The image has eight hands generally, but may have occasionally only four. The two uppermost hands are stretched out and hold the hide of the elephant with its tail bent upwards in the form of an aureola, while on the sides of this aureola are seen the legs of the elephant hanging. In the three right hands are held the trident, the kettle-drum (or the sword) and the noose (or the tusk of the elephant). Two of the three left hands hold the tusk (or shield) and the skull (kapāla), while the third exhibits the posture indicating astonishment (vismaya) or sometimes holds a bell. The left leg is placed on the elephant-head of the giant and the right is raised up so as to reach the left thigh. A good figure answering to this description comes from Pērūr near Coimbatore. The Valuvūr image (Madras Archaeological Survey Report for 1911-12, Plate IX, fig. 2) and the Tirutturaippūndi and the Dhārāsuram images (here illustrated) show the contrary position of the legs. The god has a terrible face with protruding teeth; and by his side is seen standing the