Prayogamanjari and Saivagamanibandhana (Study)
by R. Suthashi | 2010 | 31,491 words
This study deals with the iconography found in the Prayogamanjari and Saivagamanibandhana: Sanskrit books dealing Temple-construction and Shilpa-Shastra: the ancient Indian science of of arts and crafts.—The Prayoga-Manjari was written by Ravi of Matharakula in the 10th century AD whereas the Shaivagama-Nibandhana is authored by Murari-Bhatta from ...
Description of Gangadhara-Murti
The word 'Gangadhara' implies that Siva wears Ganga on his 121
head. There lies a story how Ganga came to the head of Siva.5 Regarding the leg postures of Gangadhara it resembles with that of the Vrsarudhamurti mentioned above except that there is no Vrsamastaka. Here the matted hair is not put together and tied and the face is turned downward a little. Here, four hands are depicted. The front hand on right side is in the blessing gesture is embracing the face of Parvati. The Aparahasta is spread upto the crown where in the matted hair Ganga is seated. The left hand holds the symbol of a deer. Parvati is occupied on the left side in an unhappy mood, perhaps due to the association of Siva with Ganga. The left leg of Parvati is firmly placed on the Pitha and the other one is bent slightly. The right hand is put in a spreading manner and the left hand has a flower in it. Parvati is fully decorated with charming ornaments. On the right side, below Parvati is Bhagiratha, who brought the Ganga from heaven to the earth and the subterranean world. Near her, the great saints are occupied. susthitam daksinam padam vamapadam tu kuncitam/ vislisyam syajjatabandham vame tvisannatananam// daksine purvahaste tu varadam daksinena tu/ devimukhasritenaiva devimalingya karayet// 122
daksinaparahastena uddhrtyosnisasimakam/ sprsejjatagatam gamgam vamena mrgamuddharet// devasya vamaparsve tu devi virahitanana/ susthitam vamapadam tu kuncitam daksinam bhavet// prasarya daksinam hastam vamahastam tu puspadhrk/ sarvabharanasamyuktau sarvalamkarasamyutau// bhagiratham daksine tu parsve munivaranvitam/ (Silparatna, II, 22, 67-71) This form is also not seen worshipped in any temple in Kerala. It is seen in the rock-cut cave at Elephanta, on the west wall of the rock-cut cave at Trichy in Tamil Nadu, another form of Gangadharamurti is to be found on the south wall of the central shrine of the famous Kailasa temple at Ellora, another piece is found in the Kailasanathasvami temple at Taramangalam in Salem in Tamil Nadu. It is supposed that it belongs to the 15th century AD and also at Tanjore one more this form of Siva is obtained at Vaidyesvarankoyil.