Image title: Siddha (villianur temple)

[Series: Representations of Yogic Postures of the Siddhas and Nāthas in the Medieval Temples]

Fig. 117: This rare sculpture is found in the inside wall of the southern gopura of Villianur temple. In this a Siddha is standing in a Vrkshasana pose in his right leg and his left leg is folded upward to his right thigh. He is holding a eka tara vina (kinjuri?) in his hands. His matted hairs, kundala, medallion on his chest are also clearly sculpted. Though a similar kind of sculpture is found in the adhistana of the vahana mandapa of Lower Ahobilam temple, instead of Vrkshasana pose, he is depicted in parshvottanasana pose.

Gallery information:

The Siddha/Natha tradition symbolize the most comprehensive understanding and application of the theoretical and methodological tenets of Tantric philosophy. There are many Siddha-centres all over the Tamilnadu. The temples in Tamil-Nadu contain the sculptures depicting the Tantric rites and the images of the venerated Siddhas in it.