Image title: Figure 116: Gajasamharamurti

[original] Gajasaṃhāramūrti, façade nord du sanctuaire de Mahendravarman III, Kailāsanātha de Kāñcipuram (cliché V. Gillet, 2005)

[transcription] Gajasamharamurti, north facade of the sanctuary of Mahendravarman III, Kailasanatha of Kancipuram (photo V. Gillet, 2005)

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.