Baahubali is the movie that created sensations in Indian Film Industry and feels proud. The only thing we remember is Bahubali is actor Prabhas lifting a giant Shivalinga on his shoulders. This still has become one of the signature posters of the film. Hero Prabhas takes Shivalinga on his shoulders and places it under a waterfall and saves his mother hassle of carrying thousands of pots.
The surprising moment is that imagine Lord Shiva lifting a Shivalingam himself. A researcher recently found two almost identical sculptures of Shiva in the Cauvery Delta districts that have him carry the lingam on his shoulders. Historian ‘Kudavayil’ M Balasubramanian, said that these sculptures are rather unique. The sculptures, estimated to be dated around 10th Century, were commissioned by chieftains of the Chozhas, said Balasubramanian.
Explaining the peculiarities, he said the early Chozha period sculptures at Moovarkoil in Kodumbalur in Pudukkottai district and Melappazhuvur in Ariyalur district, were made following Kalamuga Pasupata Saivite concepts. Quoting Agamas that talk about the construction of temples, he said Shiva was represented in many forms in sculptures.
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In the Keezhaiyur Shiva Temple at Melappazhuvur in Ariyalur, which is known as Avani Kandharva Easvara Griham, there are two Shiva shrines that are adjacently placed. On the upper deck of the southern shrine is a Shiva sculpture that is distinctly similar to the Shiva form in Kodumbalur.
In this sculpture, too, Shiva is found carrying Shivalinga on his right rear shoulder. But in his left rear hand, he has a Rudraksha mala instead of the deer. This sculpture was commissioned by the chieftains of the Chozhas belonging to the Pazhuvettarayar clan, Balasubramanian said. But, Lord Shiva carrying his own Shivalinga seems to be interesting in this story.