This is Bhairavi, identified by her attributes: sword (missing), drum, Trishul and Kapala. Clockwise starting with her lower right hand.

Here she is sitting in Ardhapadmasana. She is supported by Bhadrapeetha. This is a three-piece construction, Deity, Prabhavali and Peetha, which is typical of Karnataka bronzes.

The casting quality is above average, and the patina is lively. The smoothened features and the milk-chocolate patina add grace to the bronze. It has been quite a while since I came across bronze as graceful as this.

The design features worth noting are the coiling of the snake’s body on the horizontal bar of the prabhavali and the pieced design of the prabhavali.

The clinching factor for me is the three severed heads on the pedestal. This is a good addition to my portfolio of Goddess featured with three severed heads. This addition does not answer the question ‘what do they represent?’ but strengthens the question. And that is also progress.

There are four other examples of Goddesses with three severed heads on the peetha, which are posted on this website and are shown below: Durga, Bhairavi, Kali, and Mahasakthi. The blog on Mahasakthi has an extended discussion on the topic of the three severed heads.

The vigraha is about 17 cm in height, and it may be dated to the eighteenth century. This is from Karnataka.