1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
16L
16T
16ab
16s
17
18
19
20a
20b
21
22
23
24
24a1
24a2
25
26
27
28
29
30
30a
31
32
32y
33
34
g1,2,3,4,5
g6,7
g8,9,10,11,12
g13,14,15,16
g17,18,19
j1,2
j3,4
Ellora Cave Temples
Vishnu
From the porch, which was provided with comfortable benches (now much restored) connecting the pillars on either side one can see a shrinelet for the pot-bellied and four faced Brahma on the right, facing a similar shrinelet with a standing Vishnu on the left. As expected, the priestly Brahma wears a jata (ascetic's) headdress, while the more regal Vishnu wears a crown. Vishnu's hands are broken, but Brahma's hands show (from the left) the rosary, abhaya (reassurance) mudra, broken (but probably held amrita flask), and (perhaps) a bent danda. Both gods are honored by flying dwarfs, and by female attendants below. The latter are probably goddesses, but are hard to identify. Perhaps the figure to Brahma's proper left is his consort Saraswati, with her water-jug, and the other Savitri.
1954 (_CAV2255.jpg)