A HOYSALA STELE DEPICTING KHANDOBA Karnataka, Deccan, Southern India, circa 13th century grey schist, the four-armed deity holding a sword, trident, drum and a severed head, accompanied by his dog, flanked by his two wives (?) 59cm high (excluding base projection) Provenance Private collection Germany, acquired in the early 1960s from Natesan's, Bangalore, by the vendor while working in development assistance. Khandoba, or Khanderao is worshipped mostly in Maharashtra and Karnataka. He is thought to be a local folk deity who became increasingly assimilated with Siva and Bhairava, with whose attributes and companions he is usually seen.