 The man has features with large pierced ears, and the holes are exaggerated.According to Indoligst David Gordon White, this may be a representation of Bappa's initiation into a Shaivite sect, as ear piercing has been associated with the Nath Siddhas (a Shaivite sect), who were custodians of the Eklingji shrine before the 16th century.White, however, believes that Bappa is more likely to have been initiated into the Pashupata sect.