Image title: Figure 103. Sanmukha with Valli and Devayani

This is an unusual Vigraha of Sanmukha with twelve hands and six faces. His hands are holding various Ayudha s. His main right right and left hands are in Abhaya and Varada. He is riding a peacock. His feet are in Vaisakha Sthana. His hands holding Ayudhas indicate he is going for war.

Towards the right of Sanmukhar Sannidhi is Gajalaksmi.She has four hands. Her main right and left hands are in Abhaya and Varada. The upper right and left hands are holding Tamarai Pu or Lotus. She is in a seated posture. Two elephants are on either side of her.

Gajalakshmi is the consort of Lord Visnu and is worshipped as the goddess of wealth and perosperity.

Gallery information:

Kumbakonam is considered as one of the holiest places in Tamil Nadu and is known for its temples and Mathas (monasteries which were centres of Brahmanical learning). These photographs depict the connection between the sculptures in the temples and Natya Shastra and related texts dealing with iconography.