Page:South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses.djvu/222

202 hands she is holding, perhaps more correctly, the arrow. The figure stands on the head of a buffalo without any other accompanying attendants and has an umbrella overhead (fig. 126). Images of Durgā with four or more arms standing on the head of a buffalo are generally found placed in a niche on the north wall of the central shrine of Siva temples in Southern India (fig. 127 ). Occasionally, however, they may stand on ordinary pedestals without the buffalo's head, as at Tiruvottiyūr near Madras. In the Vishnu temple at Tirumalisai, Chingleput district, is a similar image (fig. 128) placed in a niche on the north wall of the central shrine. It is said to be Lakshmī but perhaps represents Durgā without the buffalo's head. The Mayamata, describing the figure of Kātyāyanī with four arms, says that she holds the conch and the discus in the upper hands and exhibits the abhaya and the varada postures with the lower. With eight arms and a parrot, this same figure is stated to receive the name of Durgā. The description of the sculptures from Mahābalipuram and Srīmushnam agrees with what has been said of Kātyāyanī in the Mayamata.

The Saivāgama specifically describes nine varieties of Durgā, all of which have two arms but different weapons SAILAPUTRI. and vehicles. The first, known as Sailaputrī, rides on a bull, wears the crescent on her head and holds a trident in her hand; the second Brahmachārinī holds the rosary and the water-pot ; the third Chandakhandā rides on the kite and has an angry look ; the fourth Skandamātā rides on a lion and holds lotus buds in her hands ; the fifth Kūshmānda-Durgā is distinguished by a pot full of wine (or blood) which she holds in both of her hands ; the sixth Kātyāyanī riding on a tiger, holds a drawn sword in her hands and is killing a giant ; the seventh Kālarātrī is of fearful appearance and has a grim smile on her face ; the eighth Mahā-Gaurī rides on a white elephant ; and the ninth Siddhidāyini is attended by demi gods. The Kāranāgama quoting the Skanda-Yamala describes these nine Durgās under different names and says that one of them has eighteen arms while the rest have sixteen each. They are generally shown standing naked with one leg placed on the head of the buffalo-demon and hold in their fist a tuft of the giant's hair. One of the Durgās with sixteen arms called Shōdasabhujā-Durgā has three eyes and serpent jewellery and holds tridents in all her sixteen arms.

Mahishāsuramardinī (also called Chāmundā, Chandī) is represented in the Nrisimhaprāsāda as the youthful but angry form of Pārvatī with three broad eyes, a slender waist, heaving breasts, one face and twenty hands. Below her is the