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pur district of Rajasthan, and thence removed to various places in Western India.-(R. C. Agrawal, Skanda-Kartikeya in Sculptures from Rajasthan', Lalit Kala Nos. 3-4, 1959).
Saivite Sculptures: The cult objects in the Siva temples at Valabhi were lingas and not images. Along with the linga, the Nandi is always associated with Siva. Some of the Nandis strewn over the ruins of Valabhi, may be dated back to the sixth and seventh centuries. They are life-size (about 6 feet) ones, from which the dimensions and the grandeur of the temples can be imagined.
Nandi: A huge massive representation of Nandi, designed from the local breed of Känkarej type from Idar, has been removed to the Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay. (S. N. Chakravarti, Guide to the Antiquities of the Historic Period, Prince of Wales Museum, Bombay, p. 30, Plate XIII). A band goes round the horns and ears, and a chain round the neck. A garland, like the later embroidered carpet, encircles the body. It is assignable. to early 8th Century A.D., and is a fine specimen in animal-studies.(Plate LVIIIa)
Although the rulers of Valabhi were broadminded and altogether catholic in their outlook, Saivism was the royal religion of the Maitrakas. The Bull and the Trident', the well-known emblems of God Śiva, which were usually found on their seals and coins, and the term parama-mdhetvara used before the names of the Valabhi kings in their copper-plates go to prove the same.-(Bhandarkar, Vaisnavism, Saivism and Minor Religious Sects, p. 119). Samalāji, according to the later 'Gadadhara Kşetra' tradition, was a Vaisnavite site, and the sculpture of Anantavişņu is one of the earliest known specimens of Visnu cult in Western India. However, the sculptures from Devani Mori, a village nearby, are mostly Saivite, consisting of some huge Sivalingas. The Nandi, referred to above, illustrates the fine local breed of a Känkareji bull. The mutilated group of Matrikä sculptures including the most striking of the Kaumari Sakti and the figure of Kumāra Kärtikeya testify further to the Saivite leanings of the place.
Eka-mukha Linga from Khedbrahma :-The huge Eka-mukha linga discovered from Khedbrahma (now in the Baroda Museum, Open Air Sculpture Gallery), about 5 feet high, has the head of Siva carved on the front side. The oblong face, though partly mutilated is remarkable for the modelling of the head-dress of the type, met with on Kusana sculptures from Mathura. Carved out of a huge block of greenish blue-schist, this linga is assigned a date of Saivite or Brahmanical revival, when worship of Eka-mukha lingas was. common in other parts of Northern and Central India. It dates a bit earlier than the group of Śiva and Matrikās from Devani Mori.-(Plate XXIX).
Virabhadra Siva :-Probably the finest image in the Idar group is the figure of Virabhadra Siva (first brought to light by Inamdar in 1935: Sculptures from Idar State), with Urdhva linga seen through the transparent drapery, which is again tied with a tiger skin. It stands in a tribhanga pose against a bull, and carries a trident (trisula) in his upper right hand. The beautiful hair-locks (jaṣā-mukuļa) fall gracefully on the shoulders, with the crescent moon on one side, and the face expressing bliss by a catching smile. The
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