AN EARLY ERA PALLAVA SOMASKANDA IN CHENGALPATTU DISTRICT,

TAMILNADU

by Dr K.P. Ravichandran, Coimbatore

An interesting Stele relief of Somaskanda shown with an Abhasmara Bhuta below Shiva's
foot has been seen in a small village, where a Pallava Temple must have existed before,
between Madurantakam and Mamallapuram, but with only left over icons of the past.

A Shiva seated in Sukhasana shows Abhaya Mudra in right hand and rests His left hand on
the thigh. He holds an Akshamala and Damaru in the upper hands on right and left sides. A
Nandhi is shown standing above Him oriented towards His left side. Uma, seated on His
left, holds an Utphala in right hand with a Kadaga Mudra and holds the baby Skhanda
seated on her lap with the other hand. Skhanda holds Padma in both hands. Above Uma is a
Bhuta Gana holding a Conch. A female Chamardhari is shown behind Uma and below her
is another female attendant holding a Vessel of offerings in standing posture with crossed
legs.
Shiva's Jatamakuta shows a very clear crescent Moon, a Ratna bandha and Makara Kundalas
in both ears with a Kanthika in the neck. His Kadivastra knotted into a Sash hangs between
His legs. His lower garment is short and not much of other features are visible. His right foot
rests on an Abhasmara Purusha lying on his stomach and face turned towards our right;
Surprisingly a Shivalinga and a Bird ( ? Crow ) is seen near him. Skhanda shows a small
Karanda Makuta while Uma shows a more elaborate coiffure as a Makuta with locks of hair
falling over her shoulders behind. She completely faces Shiva in her posture.

A small pedestal on which Uma rests her hanging left foot is seen next. The rest of
Bhadrasana shows two small legs in shallow relief and a moulding of stacked brickwork
probably to suggest a hill or a peeda. A Stele relief of such kind is very rare and has been
randomly located in the Thondai Nadu regions once ruled over by Pallavas. When instead
of a Parashu and Trishula, Shiva is seen with an Akshamala and Damaruka, we can infer
this to have been worshipped by a different Shaivite groups like Pasupata etc. Anyway no
information is available or has been documented about this panel, which is rich in details, in
good state of preservation and also seen complete in its format of iconography. Since it does
not match with those from Rajasimha Pallava Period I would assume this could be from an
earlier period in execution. The image is credit to Mr. Balaji Krishnamoorthy, who has
gracefully consented for its usage.

DETAILS OF SHIVA, UMA WITH SKHANDA AND ABHASMARA BHUTA AND BHADRASANA