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Archaeology


South Indian Sculpture
Gift Siromoney

A. COMMON DEITIES

SIVA
Vehicle : Bull
Emblems : Trident, drum, axe, antelope
Forms of Siva NATARAJA the dancing Siva
BIKSHATANA the naked beggar 
SOMASKANDA with Parvati and son 
Sons of Siva MURUGAN on a peacock with javelin
GANAPATI with the elephant-head.
ConsortPARVATI or UMA also called Sakti.
VISHNU
Vahana:Kite
Emblems : Conch, wheel
10 Avatars (incarnations) RAMA with bow and arrow.
KRISHNA with flute or in other forms.
BOAR, FISH, TORTOISE, LIONMAN, BUDDHA etc.
ConsortLAKSHMI on lotus with elephants.
BHUMADEVI the earth goddess; shown without breastband
SHAKTI
Vahana : Lion and antelope
Different forms on buffalo head KALI with Siva's emblems.
DURGA with conch and wheel.
MAHISHASURA MARDINI fighting with a buffaloheaded demon.
KOTRAVAl early Dravidian deity.
MINOR DEITIES
Vedic gods BRAHMA in charge of creation
SARASVATI his consort with veena
MANMATA god of love on goose 
RATI his consort on a parakeet
HARIHARA Vishnu + Siva in one
ARDHANARISWARA Parvati + Siva in one
SURYA the sun with a halo
NAVAGRAHA planets of the solar system
GANGA on Siva's matted hair; R. Ganges
ANJANEYAR in the form of a monkey
Village gods AIYANAR in a temple surrounded by huge clay horses; outside the village
MARIAMMAN smallpox goddess
OTHERS for plague, cholera etc.
THE BUDDHA with a 'bump' on the head & vertical line on left shoulder Different Buddhas DHYANA BUDDHA seated figure with hands in dhyana mudra. Buddhism was strong till the 7th century A.D. Virtually disappeared from Tamilnad around the 13th century. Relics can be seen at Kanchipuram.
JAIN SAINTS 24 Tirtankaras PARSVANATHA with a seven-headed cobra. Jain ascetics are often shown naked. Jainism is now confined to small pockets in Tamilnadu.

Usually deities are shown with more than two hands. Worshipers are shown in Anjali mudra. Rishis (ascetics) are shown with a beard. Portraits of kings and queens can be seen at Mahabalipuram and Kanchipuram.

B.Common Mudras (Gestures)


ABAYAMProtection

VARADA Giving

VIYAKYANA Teaching

ANJALI Worship

YOGA Meditating

KANDAGA Holding

C. Common Emblems


TRIDENT

LINGAM

DRUM

DEER

AXE

WHEEL

CONCH

D. Common Ornaments

Head Gear Ear Ornaments

KRITA

KARANDA MAKUDA

JATA MAKUDA

PATRA KUNDALA

MAKARA KUNDALA

RATNA KUNDALA


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