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The rendering of female attendants and six four-armed goddesses in parikara is quite important and suggests the specially exalted position enjoyed by Ambika. The other figure (Fig. 49) from Hingalājagarh, preserved in the Bhanpur State Museum, is not that elaborate. It shows Ambika as seated on lion with amra-lumbi and child. A third figure of Ambika from the same place (Fig. 50) is also remarkable.
Three exquisitely carved cult images of Ambika, belonging to 10th-11th century A.D., are also procured from Ahar (Tikamgarh; Fig. 51), Singhpur (Shahdol; Fig. 52) and Antra (Shahdol; Fig. 53). In all these examples, the two-armed Ambika sits gracefully on lotus with her lion mount carved below. She holds amra-lumbi in right hand while with the left she supports a child, seated in lap. (However, the right hand of Ambika is broken in the images from Shahdol.) The elegantly carved figures from Shahdol are excellent examples of Kalchuri art of about 10th-11th century A.D. The beautifully carved ornaments, dhoti, coiffure and nimbus are attractive. The carving of nimbus and parikara shows refined taste. Ambika sits in reposeful manner which apparently is suggestive of her divine character. The Yakṣi, accompanied by her elder son, is provided with foliage of mango tree and figure of
MOPS
48
Hinglajagarh (Mandsaur, M.P.), c. 10th century
