Bhairava and Bhairavi

Bhairava Bhairavi

This is Bhairava and Bhairavi. The identification is based on the attributes they are holding, sword(Khadaga), Trishul, Drum and Kapala. Clockwise starting from lower right hand.

Normally while accompanying their male consort, the goddess is shown with two arms. Here Bhairavi has four arms and is holding matching attributes. They are sitting is Lalitasana on an hour-glass shaped Padmapeetha. These two pieces are meant to slide into a Bhadrapeetha with slots.Bhairava Bhairavi back

They are wearing a full set of ornaments and notice their finger rings.

The two metal bronzes are referred to as Ganga-Jamuna bronzes and most of them originate from North Deccan. Incidentally, that is the region where the worshipping of Bhairava and Bhairavai is more prevalent. This site has several examples of Ganga-Jamuna bronzes.

Bhairava is normally depicted on his own and examples include one from Chalukya period and one from Tamil Nadu.   This site also has an example of Bhairava and Bhairavi together and that remains one of my favourite bronzes.Image result for siva parvati images donaldson

This example is from North Deccan and they are about 10cm and 8.5 high respectively.  Most of the Ganga Jamuna bronzes are dated to the eighteenth century.

Normally it is difficult to get matched pair and Ganga-Jamuna bronzes that are matched are even rarer. To give a perspective, I have included a photo of the cover of a two-volume work by Thomas Eugene Donaldson, Siva-Parvati and Allied images.  Colour plate C-82 Volume 2 and page 303 Volume 1 has references to the image on the cover. The images are identified as Umashaita. Generally, Uma, as in Parvati, is not shown carrying weapons.

 

 

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