Dakshayagam (Panel 2)
Detail Photos
This panel consists of two sections: one showing Veerabhadra bringing the severed head of Daksha to Shiva and the second, Brahma bringing Daksha alive by replacing his severed head with that of a goat’s.
Narrative
- Textual Source
- Shiva Purana
- Mythological Tale
- Daksha being the father-in-law of Shiva once held a sacrifice or yaga at this palace. Out of arrogance, he refused to invite Shiva. Sati, his daughter and Shiva’s wife went in Shiva's place, but was humiliated by her father. In her anger, she jumped into the sacrificial fire and disrupted the yaga. When Shiva came to know of this, he was furious and in his anger, created Kali and Veerabhadra, who disrupted the yaga and cut off Daksha’s head and presented it before Shiva. They continued wreaking havoc in the world, which caused Vishnu and the Devas to plead with Shiva to end this destruction. Shiva being compassionate, recalled Veerabhadra and Kali. He was also requested to allow them to bring Daksha back to life, to which he agreed. However, despite fervently searching for Daksha’s severed head, they could not find it. So Brahma placed a goat’s head in place and brought Daksha back to life. He was then allowed to resume his yaga with the blessings of all three: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This entire episode is often referred to as ‘Dakshayaga’ or the “sacrifice of Daksha”.
- Episode
- Daksha Yaga
- Position within Narrative Sequence
- Panel 2 of 3
Iconography
- Primary Deity/Figure
- Shiva
- Secondary Figures
- Brahma, Daksha, Veerabhadra; Daksha’s family; sages
- Iconographic Form
- Dakshayagam
- Iconographic Attributes
- Daksha has his characteristic goat’s head over his human body. Brahma has his three heads, japamala and Vedas. Vishnu is blue-skinned with conch shell sankhu and chakra, Shiva is white-skinned with matted locks, third eye, crescent moon and Ganga on his locks and holding deer and axe. Veerabhadra is shown as holding Daksha’s head from the first panel. He is blue-skinned and is holding a sickle-like sword in his other hand.
- Visual & Formal Features
- Facial expression detail, Hand gesture (mudra), Ornamentation
- Rasa
- Veera
Spatial & Architectural
- Temple
- Sanctum
- Zone within Temple
- Sanctum
- Position in Pradakshina Sequence
- 21
- Adjacent Panels
- Dakshayagam (Panel 1), Dakshayagam (Panel 3)
Condition & Documentation
- Condition
- Good
- Deterioration Type
- Pigment loss
- Restoration Status
- Unrestored
- Documentation Type
- DSLR full panel
- Permission Basis
- Temple authorities
- Date of Documentation
- 22/08/2024
- Artist
- Senthil
- Identifier
- THL_P021
- Rights / Notes
- These images may not be reproduced, redistributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior permission.
