regarded by some as an avatar designed to lead the asuras
into ruin by giving them bad advice. Others like Jayadeva regard him rightly as an incarnation of mercy who came to teach the people the essential cruelty of animal sacrifices.
IX
Other forms Besides the avatars mentioned above, there are other forms of Vishnu not f Vishnu which are also often found in South-Indian temples. included in the avatars. The most important of such is his reclining form, known by ANANTASA- ^ e names Anantasayin (or Seshasayin), Padmanabha and PAD'MANABHA Ranganatha. 1 The temples at Srlrangam and Trivandrum or RANGA- may be specially mentioned as the places where this form of Vishnu is worshipped. In Tamil he is known as Palligonclan. A good illustration (fig. 32) comes from the old sculptures at Mahabalipuram. In the so-called Mahishasura-mandapa, on the proper right wall of the front verandah is depicted the scene under reference. Here on the coils of the serpent Ananta sleeps on his back a gigantic figure of Vishnu with two arms. The right hand is carelessly thrown on the body of the serpent while the left hand is raised up at the elbow. The god wears a cloth round the waist, which reaches down to the feet. The usual udarabandhana is also tied round the lower part of the stomach in the form of a girdle, its ends gracefully hanging down and touching the right side of the serpent couch. The garland round the neck (i.e., the vanamdla) has slipped down the right arm of the god, thus emphasizing his sleeping posture. By the side of the serpent couch, near the feet of Vishnu, is the figure of Lakshml kneeling down and worshipping him with folded hands. In front of her are two other figures also seated by the side of the serpent couch. These may be the two colleagues of Vishnu, viz., Brahma and .Siva, or the attendants Jaya and Vijaya. Above the sleeping god in the air are two flying figures, one a female and the other a fat figure, probably a goblin. Beyond his feet and looking him straight in the face are two stalwart figures standing one in a defiant attitude with a club in his hand and the other dissuading him from what looks apparently like a murderous attack on the god. The Padma-Purana gives a
1 The Mayamata says that the serpent, the couch of Anantasayana, may be of five or seven hoods, its while colour indicating great bliss. Padmanabha means " he of the lotus- navel "; alid we see, in figures of Anantasayana, the navel of the god sending forth a stock at the end of which is a lotus flower and in it the four-faced Brahma. Ranganatha is " the lord of the rattga, the assembly-hall." It might be noted that in the illustrations of Anantasayana the central figure of Vishnu is surrounded by all the other gods as if in an assembly-hall.