This is Bhairav, one of Shiva’s terrific forms. The identification is based on his attributes Trishul, drum, noose, and skull cup. The attributes are listed clockwise starting with the lower right hand. The presence of dog behind him and his thigh-length Mundamala reinforce the identification.

Well, there are several other Bhairav in my collection, covering various regions and time. Try the search function (magnifier) on horizontal menu bar, after the last menu option.

Normally Bhairav is shown in Samapada, standing erect. That goes well with his ‘horrible’ form, image and ornamentation (Mundamala is a garland made of skulls). What distinguishes this Bhairav is the bent posture, Tribanga. In addition to bringing movement to the sculpture, it softens the ‘horrible’ form. It is unusual to see a Tamil Nadu influenced Bhairav with such movement.

The styling, see the dog, and the detailing (skulls in the Mundamala and the engraving of the ornaments) are worth noting. As is the case with Tamil Bhairav, the hair is arranged as flame and, in addition, he has Sirachakra.

See another blog on Bhairav for the back story.

The Vigraha is about 12 cm in height. It is from Tamil Nadu or the nearby areas. This Bhairav may be dated to the eighteenth century or a bit later.