National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
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Wall Paintings from Ancient Shrines in Central Asia : vol.1 |
Mahákála, the next divinity, is seated on his yak-like bull, Nandi, in a pose
similar to that of Kárttikeya. He presents an especially fierce and gruesome
appearance, with bestial, demoniac face, upward-streaming hair, and cadaverous
limbs. His brow is knotted into heavy, frowning folds over wide-open, glaring
eyes and hog-like snout. His open mouth displays the viciously curled, projecting
tongue. Above the forehead he wears a chaplet of human skulls; and behind his
head is an elephant's skin upheld by the two upper arms. The tip of the elephant's
trunk appears just by the god's bony elbow. In the right middle hand a flaming
sword is held, upright. The other hands and symbols are missing, but a trident
visible just above the right knee may be the end of a vajra held in the lower right
hand. The skeletal structure of the limbs is portrayed, with more force than
accuracy, by heavy modelling, and an expression of the ferocious energy animating
the god is exhibited in the tense action of the exaggerated muscles of the left foot.
Farther to the right, little remains of the third deity, but the right shoulder, over
which fall long black locks of hair, part of the nude trunk, and legs and one foot
can be made out. Also the upper right hand holding the red disk of the sun and the
middle right hand supporting a seated figure of the Buddha, yellow, with red
nimbus. The lower right forearm crosses in front of the breast and one of the
fingers of the hand seems to be just in front of the neck. A white girdle encircles
the waist.
In the lower half of the picture are four large, standing warriors, probably Loka-
pálas, several other gods, a few human beings, and a number of little mischievous
imps. The large, standing figure, below Kárttikeya, is probably Virúdhaka. His
elephant-head epaulettes, of which that on the left shoulder is clearly visible,
would be appropriate to this identification. Looking towards the right with wide-
open staring eyes, his rather cruel lips, slightly parted, express satisfaction. His
crossed hands rest on the pommel of a mace or sword, just below the lion mask of
his girdle. Accompanying him is a charming little `earth goddess', standing on his
left, carrying a dish of fruit. She wears long, flowing garments and an elaborate
floral coiffure. Her smooth face, with half-closed eyes and small tight mouth,
expresses conscious superiority as she turns towards the warrior. Immediately
below is an upturned face with worried, apprehensive look, and before it is a hand
raised in supplication or defence. Above the goddess stands an Indian sádhú, facing
to the right; with pale face, hooked nose, green eyes which glare fiercely, grey
beard and grey hair tied in the customary top-knot. Over his left shoulder and
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