Alexander Rea 1892 (ca) Silver and gold-plated vahana in the form of a nandi in the Kumbheshvara Temple, Kumbakonam
Photograph British Library Shelfmark: Photo 1003/(2397), Item number: 10032397
Curatorial description (Accessed: 27 February 2017)
Photograph of a silver and gold-plated vahana (coneyance) in the form of a Nandi in the Kumbheshvara Temple at Kumbakonam, taken by Alexander Rea in c.1892, from the Archaeological Survey of India Collections. The Kumbeshvara Temple, built in the 17th century during the Nayaka period, is the largest Shaiva temple in Kumbakonam. The temple has a variety of silver conveyances (vahanas) used to transport the images of the deities during the festivals. This photo shows a silver vahana in the form of Nandi, the bull sacred to Shiva.
