Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam – Bronze Idols

Mallikarjuna Temple, Srisailam – Bronze Idols

Chandrasekhara Murthy (8^th Century):

This Panchaloha set of Chandrasekhara Murthy is on a rectangular base which consists of Padmapeetam. The God is in standing pose and wearing tiger skin garment. He has four hands and the upper right hand is holding Parasu whereas the lower right hand is the Abhayahastha. The upper left hand is holding Mruga and the lower left hand is the Varamudra. The Kireetamakuta is seen in a special manner. The God is adorned with various usual ornaments along with yajnopavita.

The Goddess Parvathi is in sthanaka pose on the Padmapeetam. The vastram is beautifully moulded with various folds. She has two arms and the right hand is holding the Neelotpala whereas the left hand is Prasarita Dakshina Hastha. The Goddess is decorated with several usual ornaments like Karnabharanas, Kanthabharanas along with yajnopavita.

Nataraja (9^th Century A.D):

This finely polished bronze of Nataraja has a base in which there is Padmapeetam. The God is in Anandatandava pose and placed his right leg on the Apasmara Purusha. The left leg is raised high and turned towards right, the characteristic Natyabhangima. The God is wearing vastram up to the half area of thighs. He has four arms and the right upper arm holds the Damaru while the right lower arm is the Abhayahastha. The upper left arm holds the fire pot and the lower hand is bent across the chest towards right in the Gaja Hastha pose.

The God has shown with manjeerams and Noopurams (anklets) in the foot. There are nine Jatas and in between the first and second row of them at right the Ganga in Anjalihastha Pose is noticed. There is Chandravanka in the left of the Makutam. He is decorated with ear ornaments, several necklaces, Keyuras and having a Naga Udarabhanda and yajnopavita. The God has a Nagamakuta and in which a crown of feathers is also found. There is the Prabha around the deity and on which there are Agnisikhas.

Shivakamasundari (9^th Century):

This most beautiful bronze idol of Shivakamasundari in sthanaka pose on a rectangular base which consist of Padmapeetam. The idol is shown with beautifully moulded vastram up to the ankles. The right hand of the Goddess is the Katakahastha pose and the left hand is Prasarita Dakshina Hastha. She is decorated with ear ornaments, several necklaces along with Mangalsutra. The idol has a magnificent Kireetamakuta. She has also shown with Yagyopavitam.

Chandrasekhara Murthy (11^th Century):

This set of Chandrasekhara Murthy with Parvathi is on Padmapeetam. The God is standing on Samapadabhangima and wearing tiger skin garment. He has four hands and holding Parasu (axe) in upper right hand and whereas the lower right hand is Abhayahastha. The left upper hand is having Mruga (deer) and the lower left hand is the Varamudra. The God is having Jatamakuta which also consist of Chandravanka. He is adorned with various Aabharana. Apart from the yajnopavita there are Udarabadhas and several ornaments are also noticed in the waist portion. 

The Goddess Parvathi is in sthanaka pose wearing the vastram which is in several folds. She has two arms and the right hand is Katakahastha whereas the left hand is Prasarita Dakshina Hastha. The Goddess is holding Neelotpala in the right hand. The deity is adorned with various ornaments and yajnopavita is also noticed. The Kireetamakuta is beautifully moulded.

Sthanaka Ganapathy (10^th Century):

This finest bronze idol of Sthanaka Ganapathi is on a square base which consist of Padmapeetam. The God has four hands and the upper right hand is having a portion of Ankusa and the lower right hand is holding the danda. The upper left hand is having pasa while the lower left hand holds the modhakam. The god is decorated with Kanthabharanas and Bhujanga Bhushanams. There is yajnopavita and stomach exhibit nagabhanda.

Nataraja (12^th Century):

This bronze idol of Nataraja is beautifully moulded and is one of the finest bronzes of South India. The idol has a lotus base and on which Nataraja is in Anandatandava pose. He has his right foot on the Apasmara purusha and left leg is lifted high towards right. The Apasmara Purusha is holding a Naga in the left hand and slightly bent the right leg. The bronze has four arms and the right upper arm is holding the Damaru whereas the lower right hand is the Abhayahastha.

The upper left hand holds a fire pot and lower hand is bent across the chest to the right and is in characteristic Natyabhangima. The bronze has five Jatas and in the right of the top there is Ganga and Chandravanka is seen in the left side. The God shown with a crown of feathers and in which there is a Kapala with and Nagabharanas are noticed on either side of it.

Shivakamasundari (16^th Century):

This bronze is in sthanaka (standing) pose on a rectangular base which consists of a lotus. The right hand is in the Katakahastha pose and the left hand is the Prasarita Dakshina Hastha. The Goddess is adorned with vastram and decorated with various ornaments such as Karnabharanas, Kanthabharanas, Bhujakeertees along with Mangalsutra. There is Kireetamakuta on the head.

Gangadhara Murthy & Devi (17^th Century):

The bronze of Gangadhara Murthy is on a rectangular base which consist of a circular Peetham and pedestal on it. On the right portion of the makutam there is beautifully carved Ganga. The God has four arms and the upper right hand is holding Parasu whereas the lower right hand is Abhaya Chinmudra pose. The upper left hand is having a Mrugam and the lower left hand is Varahastha. The God is wearing beautifully moulded vastram and adorned with usual ear and neck ornaments.

The Devi is in Sthanata pose and adorned with vastram. She has two arms and the right hand is the Katakahastha which holds a lotus bud. The left hand is the Prasarita Dakshina Hastha. The Goddess is having Kireetamakuta and decorated with various usual ornaments like tatankas, necklaces.

Nataraja (17^th Century):

This bronze of Nataraja is on a rectangular base which consist of Padmapeetam. The God is in Anandatandava pose. The right foot is on Apasmara Purusha and left foot is lifted high towards right. The bronze has four arms and the upper right arm is having damaru and the lower right hand is in Abhayahastha pose. The damaru is beautifully moulded and leather spread is clearly shown. There is a fire pot on the upper left hand whereas the lower left hand is bent across the chest in the Natyabhangima. There are five Jatas and at the right of them Ganga is carved. The God is having feather crown and Chandravanka is seen in its left.

The Kapala is also noticed in the crown. The deity is adorned with beautifully sculptured skin garment. The God is surrounded by a circular Prabha which is moulded with decorative designs and Makara thorana is also noticed on either side of the Apasmara Purusha. Agnisikhas are seen on the outer side of the Prabha and Keerthimukha is noticed on its top. The God is decorated with various usual ornaments. The unique feature of the bronze is of that there is an upper cloth which is touching the prabha in a beautiful manner.