12'' Goddess Rajarajeshwari| Madhuchista Vidhana (Lost-Wax) | Panchaloha Bronze from Swamimalai

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While Shodashi is usually depicted seated on a lotus emerging from the body of Sadashiva (supported by the gods Brahma, Vishnu, Ishvara, and Rudra), the Rajarajeshwari here is seated on an inornate yet raised throne (which would ideally be a lotus) in ‘lalitasana,’ with her one leg tucked inwards and the other hanging down. As detailed in the Lalita Sahasranama, her graceful body is heavily bejewelled, supporting her heavy breasts and a thin waist. Her four arms carry the noose, the goad, a sugarcane bow, and five flowered-arrows, or ‘Pushpa Bana.’ The noose and goad work in conjecture, signalling her power and control over the universe, while the sugarcane symbolises the power of the mind, and the Pushpa Bana indicate the five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell). Of note is also the crescent moon placed against her ‘mukuta’ which signifies her divine blessings for the world. Additionally, this sculptural image carries a highly ornate ‘kirtimukha’ – literally, a ‘glorious face’ of a monster with fangs and a gaping mouth – as part of Rajarajeshwari’s halo. Heinrich Zimmer has classified it as an ‘apotropaic demon-mask, a gruesome, awe-inspiring guardian of the threshold,’ and is usually an ornamental motif. Another wonderful example of the Rajarajeshwari image can be found here.