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A Note on Mātņka-figures
Bramhāņi :
Brahmāņi, the Sakti of Brahmā, bas also been represented by two scuIptures. In both the cases, three-faced and four-armed Brabmāņi is decked with jața-mukuța. She is shown as standing on a pedastal with hamsa vahana. The first figure, datable to ca. eighth century A. D., shows the goddess with a rosary, a sruk, a padma-nåla and a kamandalu. The child is sitting at her right flank. In the second figure, assignable to ca. 12th century AD, the goddess is provided with the varadakşa, a sruk add a lotus in three hands, while with the remaining one she supports a baby and also holds a water vessel. The figures. However, conform with the tradition as envisaged by the texts. 10
Indrāni :
ladrāņi, the female counterpart of Inóra, is also represented by two sculptures. In both the instances, the four-armed goddess stands on a pedestal with an elephant mount, carved nearby. The goddess holds the varada-mudra (or a lotus bud), a vajra and a goad in three hands, while with the remaining one she supports a child sitting in the lap. However, in one case the child is shown as standing to her left and the goddess is holding the fioger of the child. Of the two figures, the one with the child standing to the left of the goddess is datable to ca. eighth-ninth ceutury A.D. while the other one is avigoable to ca. 11th century A.D. These figures agree with the iconographic features enunciated in the texts. 11
Kaumări ;
Kaumāri, the Sankti of Kumāra or Kärttikeya, is represented by one sculpture, datable to ca. 12th century A.D. The goddess possesses two arms and stands on a pedestal. She bears a fly whisk and a Kukkuța in her two hands. Her conveyance peacock and the baby are conspicuous by their absence. However, the absesce of sūla (spear) in hand and peacock as conveyance are surprising but the Kukkuța in hand is sufficient to identify the goddess with Kaumāll as the rendering of Kukkuța is very much in consodance with the literary tradition, 12 also exemplified by the sculptures.13
Vårăbi :
Varābi, the female counterpart of one of the incarnatory forms of Vişnu, is represented by two sculptures, datable to ca, 11th-12th century A.D. In both the instances, the four-arme goddess staods on a pedestal. The first figure is boar-faced and a boar, meant for a vehicle, is also carved at her left flank. The goddess shows tbe varada-mudrā, a mace, a child (in lap)
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