VINADHARA DAKSHINAMURTI -3

Paṇṇārntha vīṇai payindrān

Saint Appar hymned in a canto of Thirupoonthuruthi thandagam that he beheld the Lord of Poonthuruthi who in pleasure, abode under the banyan tree and strum the melodic Vina.

To the verses of Saint Appar a beautiful asana Vinadhara Dakshinamurti is seen on the southern koshtha of the vimana of Pushpavaneswara temple at Thirupoonthuruthi. The Lord is seated on a padma pitha with his right leg dangling and resting on the pitha whereas his left leg is folded up on the pitha. It is not exactly upright instead in half way as if positioned for yogasana. The posture exhibits his enthusiasm and ease for handling the instrument. The pitha on which the God seated is circular shown with bold urthuva and adhah padma.

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The God is draped in short attire extending upto his thighs and the idaikattu is slackly worn above it and its heavy knots spread on the left side. The ears are elongated and decked with patrakundala in the left while the right ear is plain without kundala. Kandigai, stone studded charapali, mala made of small beads are worn around the neck. Keyura, kankanas, rings adorn the arms and fingers respectively, pariyagam style of anklet is worn in the ankle. A thick yajñōpavita is worn in upavita fashion. His locks are arranged as jata mandala and decked with head patta, crescent moon is worn on the right side and the dardura on the left side. It is quite interesting to see the datura shown as a full flower with its tubular shape. His front hands are handling the tuneful vina whereas his back hands in kat̩aka carry akshamāla in the right and agni in the left. The objects in the hands of the deity and handling of Vina remind us another verse of Saint Appar

அங்கையுள் அனலும் வைத்தார் அறுவகைச் சமயம் வைத்தார் தங்கையில் வீணை வைத்தார் தம்மடி பரவ வைத்தார்   6.33.6

The God is holding the vina cozily, its resonator resting on His right thigh and the stalk extending across His chest, a thin string fastened in the vina is strummed by the right hand of the Lord from the bottom and the left hand in the top. It is so adorable to see the posture of the God, a slight bend in His left hip to ease His poise to handle the instrument, His broad open smile, seductive eyes all beautifully captured by the sculptor. Vinadhara Dakshinamurti of Pushpavaneswara temple at Thirupoonthuruthi indeed, a masterpiece of Early Chola art.