216 



DESCRIPTIVE REMARKS ON 



middle through the elongated lobe of the right. She grasps 

 another child in her left (lower) hand on her left thigh, and a 

 big knife or dagger in her lower right hand on her right thigh. 

 Next her of the four Pidaris on her left (north) side, the 



( 1 ) First is a pig-faced goddess four armed with a tall (fools- 



cap) topi; 



(2) Second a shock-headed demoness ; 



(3) Third a somewhat similar goddess with the cankha and 



cakra in her superhuman hands raised aloft ; 



(4) Fourth and last a similar figure with tri6ula or trident 



in her right, and a crescent moon (?) in her left 

 upper hand. To the right (south) of the highest figure 

 in the centre are three others : 



1st, a three-faced goddess holding up something like a 

 ball, and a ring ; 



2nd, a shock-headed god (?) " The Jain idol " of the list, 

 holding up a loop and a ring. The natives of the 

 place insist on calling this a goddess, notwithstand- 

 ing that the bust is that of a man or god ; 



3rd, and southernmost is a goddess much like the 

 others, bearing aloft some similar emblems to those 

 already noted. They might all probably be easily 

 recognized by any one well acquainted with the 

 demonology of the country, as the Sapta Matarah 

 or Seven Mothers. 



At Saluvankuppam, close to the Atiranacandesvara temple, 

 there are six very similar figures of the village goddess, set up 

 under a shed, and one or two rough unsculptured stones 

 amongst them, perhaps to complete the proper number. From 

 their appearance and the emblems they bear, these seven or 

 eight figures would seem to be the Sahtis of the principal dei- 

 ties of the Hindu Pantheon. The eight figures are all in a row 

 north and south facing the east, and a few yards in front of 

 their centre, some way down the east slope of the mound stands 

 a lirigam without any yoni, pdnavattam or pedestal to be seen. 



