Image title: Figure 212: Churning of the Ocean

[original] Barattage de l’Océan, niche no 13 du mur d’enceinte, face au nord, Kailāsa- nātha, Kāñcipuram (cliché V. Gillet, 2008)

[transcription] Churning of the Ocean, niche no. 13 of the surrounding wall, facing north, 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.