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dharma-visheSha-prasUtAd dravya-guNa-karma-sAmAnya-visheSha-samavAyAnAM padArthAnAM sAdharmya-vaidharmAbhyAM tattvaj~nAnAn niHshreyasaM ||

Nov 5, 2021, 11 tweets

A pratihAra age shrI-viShNu from Rajasthan

On this one there is a tricephalic rudra on the top; below that a li~Nga. In central left panel rudra & umA with a bull can be seen, center 3 water goddesses; right 2 unidentified deities

This exemplar from Sai, HP has a li~Nga above the outlet; a top panel with the moon& sun archons flanking viShNu, rudra, brahman; 2 goddesses like umA (L) & ga~NgA (R); the 2 figures flanking the li~Nga are likely ritualists.

This exemplar from Kilar, HP has no deities but just the faunal elements with the characteristic floral motif

Exemplar from Luj, Pangi near Chamba. Not all deities are not clearly identified: There king yama, whose day it is with his mace & lasso to the right. To his right it might be brahman. The other deity is possible viShNu; there is a horse-rider with a club& unrecorded inscription

A fragmented exemplar from Dadvar featuring a deity who could be yama.

An alternative interpretation of that deity is that he is varuNa. This is more consistent with the watery connection of the stones. My friend from the region pointed out that varuNa was the deity worshipped in this stone at Lasua & that's supported by an inscription from Nal

A fountain stone from Bharara, HP with the central deity identified as varuNa.

An exemplar from Barahar with varuNa; a couple worshiping a li~Nga; cavalry warriors like the Pir Panjal horsemen; infantrymen.

The Batrundi fragment with varuNa and similar warriors as above.

The viShNu: dashAvatara fountain stone fragment from the Chamba region with water goddess panel below that. These were recorded by the ASI over 100 years ago; a search for new examples can still be done.

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