Photo 212/1(24)

Genre: Architectural Photography

Close view of sculptured figure in the Pudu Mandapa of the Minakshi Sundareshvara Temple at Madurai. Lyon's 'Notes to accompany a series of photographs prepared to illustrate the ancient architecture of southern India' (Marion and Co., London, 1870), edited by James Fergusson, gives the following description of this photograph: '273 - Directly facing the god at the opposite end of the passage is the figure of a woman with three breasts. The legend is as follows: - One of the Pandian kings being childless, was directed to make an offering to Shiva. From the flames of the sacrifice a child three years old appeared. It was a female, and, to the great affliction of the king and queen, it had three breasts. They were directed to give the child proper nourishment and education; and were told that when her appointed husband should appear, she would lose her third breast On becoming of an age to marry, she set out with an army in search of a husband. After conquering many kings, she at last met Shiva in battle, when her weapons immediately became powerless, but as her third breast disappeared, she submitted at once to her destiny, and in due time became the wife of the god.' Another copy at Photo 1000/29(2923).