Rare Vishnu sculpture found at Thiruvidanthai
A rare piece of beautifully executedsculpture, depicting Vishnu seated on a Naga coil under the five hoodsof the serpent deity, was unearthed a couple of days ago at theNithyakalyanaswamy temple at Thiruvidanthai, about 45 km from here. Workers found the sculpture below the groundat the yagasala mantapa. Kumbhabhishekam at the temple is scheduledfor June 10. At the bottom of the one-metre-high Nagastone sculpture is a decorated pedestal with several components. Abovethis pedestal is a peeta (pedestal) in the form of a koorma(tortoise) and above this is the Naga in five coils. Vishnu is seatedon the topmost coil. The five hoods spread out like an umbrella overhim. The sculpture belongs to the 17th century Vijayanagara period. The temple was built in the 7th century A.D. T. Satyamurthy, superintending archaeologist,Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Chennai Circle, said it was aunique Naga stone. Such stones were generally found in Siva temples,with the linga seated on the Naga coils. The Naga stones were offeredas votives for boons granted. But the Nithyakalyanaswamy temple was aVishnu temple, and this Naga stone had a Vishnu at the centre. Besidesit was found at the yagasala mantapa, where it could have been given asan offering. Vishnu is seen seated in a sukhasana (relaxed posture).He has four arms, holding a chanku (conch), `chakra' (wheel), astylised `gatha' and a `padma' (lotus). His cylindrical kreeta,elaborate ornaments and the posture of holding the weapons indicatedthat the sculpture belonged to the Vijayanagara period. The serpent'sfive hoods had mukhapattika — ornaments on the forehead. The hoodshad prominent eyes. It is a beautiful and finely executed sculpture.The finish is excellent, Dr. Satyamurthy said on Friday. It was madeout of a single piece of greenish granite. The temple is one of the earliest on the eastcoast. The sanctum has a big Varahamurthy (boar deity), with Bhudevi athis left. Varaha is more than seven feet tall. The sculpture of aNaga, depicting Vishnu at the centre — that too, seated on a koormapedestal — is rare, Mr. Thirumoorthy said.