JYESHTA AT NIRPAZHANI
Goddess Jyeshta is found in many of temples of Tamil Nadu, but as a deserted deity either kept in some corner of the temple as a thrown away sculpture, or just kept without worship, in some temples kept along with other deities as to demigod status. The presence of numerous sculptures of Goddess Jyeshta in the temples of Tamil Nadu shows her popular worship in Tamil society in ancient period. In addition, the Tamil literature also corroborates the same, hail her as Kakkai kodiyal, Pazhayol, Tavvai, shows once a popular deity of Tamil society but at present found in deserted condition in the temples of Tamil Nadu. In very few temples we can see her glorious status as a parivara deity, one example to cite is Thirukattalai in Pudukkottai district. This bring to forefront the worship of Jyeshta was shadowed or faded away in course of time due to cultural transformation in the society. This series attempts to bring to limelight wonderful sculptures of Jyeshta found in the temples of Tamil Nadu. One such temple is Valarmathi Iswaram temple at Nirpazhani in Pudukkottai district where a beautiful Jyeshta is seen kept in the mandapa. The attributes of the sculpture shows its significance in the period of its origin.
Jyeshta is seated on a pedestal with her son Manthan to her right and daughter Agnimatha to her left. In karantamakuta and silk attire adorned with patrakundalas in the elongated ears, charapali, kankanas, and thalseri are the ornaments adorned by her. The breast band is absent. Her left hand is resting on her thigh whereas her right hand is in abhaya. The usual pendulous breast and flabby belly are absent instead looks in shape.
Manthan is seated in suhasana to the right of the goddess Jyeshta is decked with karantamakuta and short attire is carrying parasu in the right, the left hand is placed on the thigh. Charapali, kankanas, keyura are the ornaments adorn by him. Agnimatha seated in utkudikasana to the left of the goddess is decked with karantamakuta, silk attire, charapali, kankanas, keyura and patrakundalas. Her left hand is resting on her thigh whereas her right hand is in kataka carrying the nilothpala. As like Jyeshta, breast band is absent. Both Jyeshta and Agnimatha are seen in wide smile.
Usually Jyeshta is shown with flabby belly and pendulous breasts to depict her as aged but here shown as young mother with normal belly and stiff breasts. The Goddess in wide smile seated along with son and daughter seems compassionate. The attributes of the sculpture helps us to place her to 10th century C.E. Besides, the size and elegance of the sculpture exhibit the significant position of the deity in the tenth century Tamil society.