Image title: Figure 101: Celestial beings to the left of Shiva

[original] Êtres célestes à la gauche de Śiva dansant du Type-des-deux-jambes-repliées, cella no 2, façade sud du sanctuaire, Kailāsanātha, Kāñcipuram (cliché V. Gillet, 2008)

[transcription] Celestial beings to the left of Shiva dancing in the Type-of-the-two-folded-legs, cella no. 2 , south facade of the sanctuary, Kailasanatha, Kancipuram (photo V. Gillet, 2008)

Gallery information:

These plates originate from the book The Creation of an Iconography as based on Shaivite narrative (original title: “La création d'une iconographie sivaïte narrative”) which details the sculptures and construction temples of the Pallava dynasty (in the Tamil-speaking Southern India) near the end of the 7th century. Usually, such constructions were dedicated to Shiva having the walls adorned with representations of Siva in various embodiments: some benign, some fierce and sanguinary, others victorious and regal.