the female figure standing on a plinth, her hands clasped in anjali mudra, wearing skirt, large earrings and beaded necklaces, 27cm

The oracle is a mediator between the deities and their devotees, and these figures, called in Malayalam komaram or velichappadu, are particularly associated with temples dedicated to the goddess (Bhagavati) in northern Kerala. They hear the problems of the devotees and predict resolutions during a trance-like state when possessed by the deity, relaying messages directly from them directly to the devotee. A group of similar figures are on display in the Dakshinachitra Museum, in Muthukadu, south of Chennai.