Rebus (?) Figure

Cave temple of Shiva
Elephanta Island

This figure stands in guardian position at the east shrine at Elephanta. His lower left hand rests upon the hilt of a sword. Details of his clothing, jewelry, and hairstyle identify him as Shiva himself, but his four arms are very unusual for that god. His left lower arm rests on a capital on top of a potbellied dwarf (gana), while his two principal hands uphold an elephant rider (proper right hand) and a lotus sleeper (proper left hand). These smaller figures are either personifications or who-knows-what. This statue is so unusual that I can only suppose it to be a rebus.