Sadasiva

 

Sadasiva consort

This is Siva with five faces and ten hands with his consort sitting on his lap. He is sitting in Lalitasana. Sadasiva means eternal Siva. Some scriptures require the faces to show different aspects. In this case, there is no discernible difference. Even the attributes in his hands look the same.Sadasiva consort back

The five faces are meant to represent different aspects, Tatpurusha (Supreme spirit), Aghora (Not terrific), Sadyojata (Newly born), Vamadeva (North facing) and Isana (Source of the universe).The Sakhti/consort is Manonmani or Bhogasakti.

In some sculptures, four of the five faces are at one level, facing each of the directions and the fifth face is on the top. Here all the five faces are at the same level.

Sadasiva worship was common in Bengal and Maharashtra. Sena rulers, from Bengal/Bihar region, at some stage claimed Sadasiva as their family deity. Some Sadasiva consort rightSena rulers used Sadasiva in their copper plate grant seals.

This may be from Maharashtra.  Edward Moor, Hindu Pantheon, Plate 16 figures 1 and 2, and the corresponding description of the attributes in Sadasiva’s hands matches with that in the icon above. Edward Moor names his icon  Panchamukha Parameshwara (Five faced Parameshwara – another name for Siva). The use of brass in idol casting is common in Maharashtra.

This icon is about 6 cms in height and maybe from the 19th century or earlier.

 

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