King Mamalla

Dharmaraja Ratha, Mamallapuram

The king is identified by inscription above this statue. He grandly occupies the west corner of the south wall, in the company of the gods on the other corners, and looking rather like a god himself. Huntington (p. 310) speculates that this may be a funerary portrait, since it is placed at the "Yama" (lord of the dead) position on his monument (see: directional guardians).