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Symbols
mul
Vehicle Hands
Faces
Hair-dress
Misc.
Symbols
Vehicle
Hands
Faces
Posture
Misc.
BRAHMA
KEY TO THE IDENTIFICATION OF MAJOR HINDU GODS AND GODDESSES
Rosary, vase, ladle, book
Goose
Four
Four. Actually only three seen Matted hair
Generally shown with a short pointed beard
NATARAJA-SIVA
R.h.-protection pose and drum
L.h.-in Gajahasta and fire
VISHNU
Mace, lotus, conch, wheel
Eagle (Garuda)
Four
One
Kirita crown
Wears sometimes a flowergarland as the sacred thread
KARTTIKEYA (SUBRAHMANYA)
Stands on dwarf Apasmāra. Peacock left leg lifted, turned towards right leg and kept across it
Four
One
Six
Two or Six
SIVA
Sometimes with four faces. The peacock identifies him from Brahma. Sometimes with one head and four hands but without a deer or serpents
Trident, wheel, battle-axe, club. Often a deer in one hand
Bull
Two, four or more
One
Matted hair
Often a crescent and serpent in the hair and third eye in forehead
GANESA
Rat
MAHESA-MURTI
Four
One
Two hands in boon-giving and protection postures
noose
Two hands in protection Elephant tooth, goad, laddu, Protection pose, trident, and boon-giving poses. Others carry thunderbolt, shield, spear and sword
mace and boon-giving pose
Four right hands-ūla, battle-axe, thunderbolt and sword
Four left hands-shield, goad, noose and shield
Ten
Five. Only four visible
VIRABHADRA
Bull
Four
One
DAKSHINA-MURTI-SIVA
Right hand-one in Jñana mudra and one carries a rosary
Left hand-boon-giving pose and fire, snake or lotus
Four
Seated with one leg pendant
SHESHASHAHI-VISHNU
Conch, wheel; one hand on head of serpent Shesha and one on knee
Serpent Shesha
Four
Sleeping
One foot held by consort Sri on her lap: Brahmä on lotus springing out of his navel. Demons Madhu and Kaitabha near stalk of lotus
