Image title: Minanatha (seated on a fish)

Fig. 162: This stucco sculpture is found in same place (Fig.161), in which Minanatha is seated on a fish in lalitasana and holding the breast of a woman who is standing to his left. In turn, she is holding his hair with her left hand; and holding his left hand by her right hand. This seems to be the depiction of ‘Kadali’ part of the stories on Minanatha. To their right side another siddha kneeling down under Bhairavi, as he is holding her breast in his right hand. To their right side another Siddha also kneeling down under the lady who is in lalitasana pose and removing a snake which seems to be licking her pudenda. He may be the Gorakshanatha, who came to rescue his guru Minanatha, in the above legend. Instead of horizontal Tripundra (of Shaiva sects) in their forehead, all are depicted with the Vaishnavite symbols of vertical Tripundra.

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.