Image title: Figure 17: Goddess accompanied by her lion

[original] Déesse accompagnée de son lion, façade nord du porche d’entrée, Airā vateśvara, Kāñcipuram (cliché G. Ravindran, EFEO, 2008)

[transcription] Goddess accompanied by her lion, north facade of the entrance porch, Aira vateshvara, Kancipuram (photo G. Ravindran, EFEO, 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.