Iconography of Vamana Myth

The iconography of Vamana or the dwarfish is simple but the descriptions given in the Sanskrit texts are varied. The image of Vamana shows him either as a mendicant or a brahmacarin. The only emblem to be held by Vamana according to the Visnudharmottara is the staff. " The god Vamana should have. crocked limbs and a fat body. He carries the staff and is prepared for studies. His colour should be dark green like the durva grass and he should wear an antelope skin. The Agni Purana prescribes the umbrella and staff his embles, if the figure of Vamana is two-handed. The representation of Vamana in any of these forms is rather rare. The Bhagavata Purana gives quite a detailed description of the image. The emblems to be held by the deity are the umbrella, the staff (danda), and the kamandalu full of water in his three

403 hands, while the fourth hand is in the abhaya-mudra. He wears an antelope skin, the yajnopavita, etc. Sometimes he holds the emblems which are in no way relevent to the role he plays as an Avatara. For instance, according to the Pauranakarma, he should hold the Sarnga,the bow in his three hands. The emblem to be held in the fourth hand is not mentioned. The Gandharva Tantra imagines the image of Vamana just like that of ordinary Visnu images, holding the peculiar emblems of Visnu. "Bhakta (Vamana) has lotus-like eyes and fair golden colour. He should hold in his four hands the mace the conch, the lotus and the disc. A number of the four-handed mediaeval images of Vamava holding the emblems of Visnu are available. It deserves attention that the early images of Vamana, like the description geven in the early texts cited above, are invariably two-handed. A beautiful four-handed image of Vamana, pot-bellied standing on a lotus pedestal, datable to the 9 th century A.D., is preserved in the collection of the Bharat Kala Bhavan, Benaras, the lower right hand is in the varada-mudra, the rest of the hands hold the mace, the disc and the conch. Sridevi and Saraswati flank him and below on the pedestal are represented the devotees with folded hands.

404 A very image from Dinagpur, is the collection of the Asutosh Mesuem, the disc and the conch, stands on lotus pedestal flanked by sri and sraswati. " The Vamana figure by the goddess Sri and Saraswati is described in the Kalika Purana. It says: Fair like the moon, wearing yellow garments, standing on Garuda, the four-handedgod holds in his upper right hand the mace, in the lower right hand the pot of water, in the upper left hand the flaming disc, and in the lower left the conch. His chest is marked with Srivatsa and the Kaustubha. He has on his left side the quiver full of arrows, and on his right side the Nandaka sword. He is adorned with a tiara, earrings and vanamala reaching up to his knees. To his right side stands Sri and Saraswati." So far no image of Vamana carrying the quiver is available, but an image with the Nandaka sword attached to the belt has come to light from Narwar, datable to the 11 th century A.D. now in the Gwalior Mesuem. The small figure of Vamana carrying the mace, the disc and conch in his three hands, the fourth being in Varada-mudra. The long ear-lobes and the curly hair remind one of the Buddha figures. A donor couple, devotes ayudha-purusas flank the central figure. Arround the panel are depicted the avataras of Visnu, also Brahma and Siva, and on the top is an unidentified figure in dhyana-mudra. Later Tantric texts, like Meru Tantra, describe a very peculiar

405 from Vamana, termed Dadhi Vamana. The texts prescribed that Vamana should carry pots, full of curds and water in his hands. The idea behind this form seems to indicate Vamana symbolizing the creative primciple of life as represented by the water and curd. According to the same text Vamana should meditated upon as standing under the golden umbrella flanked by the goddess Sri and Bhumi. He should hold in his left hand a golden pot filled with water. The description of Vamana in the Saradatilaka is almost the same. So far such of Vamana has come to sight. The image to be executed to the Visnudharmottara Purana is very peculiar. It says: "The image of Trivikrama should be like the cloud laiden with water, (of dark shade) and in his right hands he hold the staff, the noose, the conch, the disc, the mace and the lotus. With his other two hands he should blow the conch. The Matsya Purana, the Manasollasa etc. do not throw much light on the iconography of the Trivikrama image, hence for the most we have to rely on the Vaikhanasagama ans the Atri Samhita. The Vaikhasagama divides the image of Trivikrama into three varieties according to the level of the upraised left foot. It should either to be the level of the right knee, to the navel or to the forehead inteded to represent him in the act of striding over the

406 three worlds. It should have either four or eight hands. If he is four-armed, one of the right hands holds conch, and one of the left hands holds the disc. One of the right hands should be help up with the palm upwards, and the other left hand should be stretchied out paralled to the uplifted leg. If image is eight-handed, then five of his hands should carry the conch, the disc, the mace, the bow and the plough and the others carry the symbols of the four-handed image. His right leg should be firmly planted upon the Earth and the left should be used in taking the stride. Indra should be shown to be holding an umbrella over Trivikrama's head, Varuna, Vayu, Surya and Chandra attend on him with flywisk. Brahma should be shown washing the uplifted leg of Trivikrama. Siva with folded hands should be sculptured on the panel. Below his left leg is represented the drawfish figure of Vamana with an umbrella in his hands, rady to receive the grant of his wish from king Bali who stands opposite to him holding a water vessel indicating that he is ready to pour the sacred water as an act of final dedication. Sukracharya, his guru, should also be present there. From the Katra Kesavadev at Mthura has come a panel showing the Trivikrama incarnation of Visnu (assignable to the early Gupta period.), now preserved in the Mathura Musuem. It is very difficult to describe the image in detail because the panel is in a baly mutilated condition. A figure is seen with left leg stretched aloft at the end of which is seen a demon head.

407 A very interesting image of Trivikrama has been found from Rajim, in the Raipur district, Madhya Pradesh. The four-handed god holds in his upper two hands the disc and the conch. The lower right hand is the katihasta-mudra. He is shown to be crushing the demon head with his lower left hand also by his vigorously outstretched left leg. Below the left leg is represented the serpent Sesa, seated in human form on his own coils with his hands in the anjali-mudra. No other accessory figure attends the deity. This figure dates back to early 7 th century. There are two fine Pala specimens of the Trivikrama incarnation in the collection of the Indian Museum. Calcutta. One of them represents the whole episode on its minutest details. The god stands with his right leg firmly planted on the pedestal and the left leg raised upto the waist. His upper two hands hold the mace and the disc, the lower right hand near his waist hlods the lotus and the mutilated left hand probably held the conch. Below on his right side the goddess Sri. To the left, under his left leg is seen Vamana holding an umbrella in his hand. The king holds a water-not in his right hands as if pouring the sacrificial water symbolising his the readiness to offer the gift to Vamana. This scene depicts the earlier part of the ledend when Vamana approached the king at the time sacrifice. As soon as the king gave him the gift by symbolically pouring water, he assumed the Viraja or gigantic form depicted in the main sculptor. It is a vivid execution of the particular scene described in the Harivamsa, in the line:

408 A peculiar image from Abdullapur, in Bengal, depicts Trivikrama in accompaniment of the consorts of Visnu-Sri and Saraswati. The ornate figure of Trivikrama holds the mace, the disc and the conch in his hands. The right leg is firmly planted on the lotus pedestal and the left is raised aloft, with the mimiature figures of the king and the dwarf below it. On either side of the god appera Sri and Saraswati standing on lotuses. In the group of temples at Osian, near Jodhpur in Rajasthan, are preserved some representations of Trivikrama. One on the outer wall of the Sachiya Mata Temple, shows the four-handed Trivikrama drushing the head of the demon with his left leg raised aloft. Of the four-hands, his lower right hand is in the katihastamudra, the upper right holds the disc and the lower left holds the conch. Below his left leg are the king making his offering, Vamana with an open umbrella and other attendant figures. A figure, evidently the king, is shown holding the right leg of the god and above him appears a horse symbolising the horse sacrifice.