Image title: Bhairavi (Pancanadishvara temple)

Fig. 148 to Fig. 161 are the depictions of Bhairavi Cakra/Cakra Puja practice of the Tantric cult. Usually in sculptures, the practice of Bhairavi Cakra is always depicted with a group of male tantric practitioners who are lesser in height than the woman and standing in a nude pose with or holding their erect virile membrane (penis) in their hand. And they are in anjali mudra, in front of or at the legs of the gigantic nude women, (hereafter called as Bhairavi), who is showing her secret parts in a standing pose. However, there are slight differences in those depictions in each place. Sometimes the male practitioners may be four or less in numbers and even one also.

Fig. 159: This stucco sculpture is found on the northern side of the vimana of the Pancanadishvara temple at Tiruvandarkoil. In this two practitioners are depicted along with the nude Bhairavi. One is in an upavesasana (squatting) pose and holding his penis in his right hand and right leg of the Bhairavi in his left hand. Another practitioner is in anjali mudra standing behind her with his erect penis.

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.