hands she is holding, perhaps more correctly, the arrow. The

figure stands on the head of a buffalo without any other accompanying attendants and has an umbrella overhead (fig. 126). Images of Durga with four or more arms standing on the head of a buffalo are generally found placed in a niche on the north wall of the central shrine of Siva temples in Southern India (fig. 127 ). Occasionally, however, they may stand on ordinary pedestals without the buffalo's head, as at Tiruvottiyur near Madras. In the Vishnu temple at Tiru- malisai, Chingleput district, is a similar image (fig. 128) placed in a niche on the north wall of the central shrine. It is said to be Lakshml but perhaps represents Durga without the buffalo's head. The Mayamata, describing the figure of KatyayanI with four arms, says that she holds the conch and the discus in the upper hands and exhibits the abhaya and the varada postures with the lower. With eight arms and a parrot, this same figure is stated to receive the name of Durga. The description of the sculptures from Mahabalipuram and Srl- mushnam agrees with what has been said of KatyayanI in the Mayamata.

The Saivagama specifically describes nine varieties of Durga, all of which have two arms but different weapons SAILAPUTRI. and vehicles. The first, known as Sailaputrl, rides on a bull, wears the crescent on her head and holds a trident in her hand; the second BrahmacharinI holds the rosary and the water-pot ; the third Chandakhanda rides on the kite and has an angry look ; the fourth Skandamata rides on a lion and holds lotus buds in her hands ; the fifth Kushmanda-Durga is distinguished by a pot full of wine (or blood) which she holds in both of her hands ; the sixth KatyayanI riding on a tiger, holds a drawn sword in her hands and is killing a giant ; the seventh Kalaratrl is of fearful appearance and has a grim smile on her face ; the eighth Maha-Gauri rides on a white elephant ; and the ninth Siddhidayini is attended by demi- gods. The Kdrandgama quoting the Skanda-Yamala describes these nine Durgas under different names and says that one of them has eighteen arms while the rest have sixteen each. They are generally shown standing naked with one leg placed on the head of the buffalo-demon and hold in their fist a tuft of the giant's hair. One of the Durgas with sixteen arms called Shodasabhuja-Durga has three eyes and serpent- jewellery and holds tridents in all her sixteen arms.

Mahishasuramardini (also called Chamunda, Chandi) is represented in the Nrisimhaprasdda as the youthful but angry form of ParvatI with three broad eyes, a slender waist, heaving breasts, one face and twenty hands. Below her is the MAHISHA- SURAMAR-