This article offers a new iconographic reading of the sixth-century architrave of the gateway of the Mahādeva Temple at ancient Madhyamikā (Nagarī). It is argued that the eastern and western face of the architrave should be read in conjunction. The eastern face shows Śiva’s entry as a naked mendicant into the Devadāruvana, while the western face depicts the Kirātārjunīya, a story that is foreshadowed in the panels of the eastern face. The motif that ties both stories together is the Brahmaśiras or ‘Head of Brahmā,’ which is simultaneously the skull that forms Śiva’s begging bowl and the Pāśupata Weapon acquired by Arjuna. The theme of the winning of the Pāśupata Weapon may have had particular resonance for the Aulikara rulers in their troubled times.

中文翻译：

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寻找 Pāśupata 武器

本文提供了对 6 世纪古代中观（Nagarī）大天寺门户档案的新图像解读。有人认为，楣梁的东面和西面应结合阅读。东面描绘了 Śiva 以赤身裸体的乞求者身份进入神殿，而西面则描绘了 Kirātārjunīya，这是一个在东面面板中预示的故事。将两个故事联系在一起的主题是 Brahmaśiras 或“梵天之首”，它同时是形成 Śiva 乞讨碗的头骨和 Arjuna 获得的 Pāśupata 武器。赢得 Pāśupata 武器的主题可能对处于困难时期的 Aulikara 统治者产生了特别的共鸣。