Salabhanjika figure, Konark Sun Temple

The relief depicts a woman with heavy ornamentation, carved in sandstone, set within an architectural niche. She has voluminous breasts, wears a tiered necklace, an ornate waist girdle, and has her hair styled in an elaborate bun. In her left arm, she cradles a bird, while her right hand is raised in a gesture, possibly holding a small object. To the right of the figure, the carving transitions into complex geometric and floral scrollwork typical of Kalinga architecture.

This sculpture is a manifestation of the 'salabhanjika' or 'woman-and-tree' motif, deeply rooted in Indian aesthetic traditions such as the Shilpa Shastras, representing fertility and the auspicious nature of the female form in temple architecture.