Image title: Figure 10. Bhiksatana

This is the figure of Caturbhuja Sivan as Bhiksatana. In his hands he is holding a deer with his front right hand, back right hand is holding a Damaru, front left hand is holding a skull cap of Brahma as Bhiksapatram (begging bowl) and the back left hand is holding a Trisula–Pinaka. Next to him you can see the Bhutagana following him. As the legend goes “A group of Rsis in the Darukavanam became very egoistic due to their yogic powers and disregarded the supremacy of God. There fore Siva as the naked Bhiksatana and Visnu as Mohini went to the forest to teach them a lesson.” “Bhiksatana is the form that Bhairava assumes to atone for his sin of cutting of Brahma’s fifth head. He wanders the earth as a nude mendicant adorned with ornaments carrying his Ayudhas followed by his attendants and love sick women.”

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.