A Pala era panel depicting Grihapati & his mother Sucishmati. Grihapati is the infant form of Shiva. He was born to Rishi Vishvanara & Sucishmati as a result of their severe austerities at Kashi. The story of Grihapati's life is explained in great detail in the Shiva Purana.
The panel depicts infant Grihapati laying next to his mother Sucishmati. There are 2 female attendants on either side, one waving a Chamara(fan) & other massaging Sucishmati's foot. On top of this depiction is a series of various figures. First among whom a is Gandharva.
The Gandharva is followed by a carving of Ganesha seated on a padma peetha. Then we see a Linga followed by the Navagrahas starting with Kethu. On the other end is Surya followed by another Gandharva.
Popular depiction of Grihapati who is an amsha of Shiva. His story is very similar to Markandeya. Shiva saves Grihapati from the Vajradanda of Indra like how he saved Markandeya from the paasa of Yama. The linga associated with this story is in Kashi. It is called Agnisvara.
It is said by Shiva that
अग्नीश्वरस्य भक्तानां न भयं विद्युदग्निभिः ।
अग्निमांद्यभयं नैव नाकालमरणं क्वचित् ॥
A person who worships Agnisvara need not fear lightning and fire.They will never suffer a premature death. A Brahmin family still tends to this linga even today in Kashi.
