Image title: Bhairavi (Kamatchiamman Temple)

Fig. 148 to Fig. 161 are the depictions of Bhairavi Cakra/Cakra Puja practice of the Tantric cult. Usually in sculptures, the practice of Bhairavi Cakra is always depicted with a group of male tantric practitioners who are lesser in height than the woman and standing in a nude pose with or holding their erect virile membrane (penis) in their hand. And they are in anjali mudra, in front of or at the legs of the gigantic nude women, (hereafter called as Bhairavi), who is showing her secret parts in a standing pose. However, there are slight differences in those depictions in each place. Sometimes the male practitioners may be four or less in numbers and even one also.

Fig. 154: This sculpture is found on a pillar in front of the main sanctum of Kamatchiamman Temple at Kancipuram. In this a single practitioner is standing with his erect penis and holding his right hand towards the pudenda of the Bhairavi. His ornaments and hairdo are similar to the Fig.153. Here Bhairavi is shown in dwibhanga pose and lifted up her right hand above her head and her left hand is freely hanging in the lola-hasta mudra.

Gallery information:

The Siddha/Natha tradition symbolize the most comprehensive understanding and application of the theoretical and methodological tenets of Tantric philosophy. There are many Siddha-centres all over the Tamilnadu. The temples in Tamil-Nadu contain the sculptures depicting the Tantric rites and the images of the venerated Siddhas in it.