Trichinopoly, India ca. 1820 - ca. 1825 (made)
Description:
Shiva rescuing the young Markandeya from the noose of Yama, the god of death. To the left the figure of the 16-year old Markandeya is embracing the Lingam in the Shiva temple at Tirukkadavur. From the top of the symbol of life issues the god as the Conqueror of Death (Kalarimurti), four-armed, holding the deer and the drum, and thrusting with his trident at the blue-skinned Yama, mounted on a black bull on the right, who has just thrown his noose over the lingam and the body of Markandeya.This aspect of Shiva is called Kalantaka; you can read more at Wikipedia. The word Kalantaka means "he who ends the death and time" from Sanskrit kala (काल) which means "time" (and thus "death") and antaka (अन्तक) which means "ender."
More about Markandeya and Shiva at Wikipedia.
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