This is Surya, the Sun god. His iconographical features include lotus buds in his hands and a chariot driven by seven horses. The single-wheel chariot (See the side view) is another characteristic of Surya.

Here Surya is sitting in Ardha Padmasana on an inverted lotus base. His charioteer is Aruna and his lower part is left undefined to indicate that Aruna is lame.

This iconography, Surya on a chariot, is widely known in North India. Better-known South Indian examples show Surya standing in Samapada without any attendants and/or his wives.

Sculpture at Vijayanagar, Iconography and Style by Anna L Dallapiccola and Anna Verghese documents a stone sculpture of standing Surya on a chariot driven by seven horses, Figure 73. Reproduced on our right.

Other differences between the North Indian and South Indian iconography of Surya include the North Indian Surya wears footwear, his torso is covered, and he holds lotus flowers.

This Vigraha probably dates to the post-Vijayanagar period, like the eighteenth century. It is about 9.5 cm in height and shows ritual wear. This is likely to have been used in home shrines.