This large (31 cm tall) Vigraha is Veerabhadra and is identified by his attributes. He holds a sword, arrow, bow, and shield, in a clockwise fashion, starting with his lower right hand. It is surprising in the case of four-armed Veerabhadra the order in which the attributes are held is the same.

Shiva created Veerabhadra to avenge the disrespect shown by Shiva’s father-in-law, Daksha. Another blog on Veerabhadra has more information on this episode.

In this sculpture, there are several features worth noting the Munda Mala (the garland of skulls) reaching up to his ankles, the wooden padukas, his posture of walking/striding, the striking Kiritimukha, streamer flowing from his crown and short dhoti (Typical of a warrior).

The vigraha is from Deccan and it is a two-piece construction. Given the size, 31 cm in height, it was likely in a public shrine. This Vigraha may be dated to the eighteenth century.

To clean or not to clean: I tend to clean Vigraha to remove accumulated dirt. In this case, I will leave it as it is. The wear pattern and accumulated grime tell us a story about its usage and life without obstructing the features. I am surprised at the ritual-related deposits, as when they are in worship the Vigrahas get cleaned regularly.