Venugopal ( Lord Krishna in his universal form)

Venugopal  ( Lord Krishna in his universal form)

Vijayanagar Empire,16th Century AD

         Things can be deceptive in life. A village boy, a cowherder, a flutist, is none other than the maintainer of the Universe. Krishna was beguiling. He ranged  from the pranckster to a philosopher. He lures us with the music of his own purity, with his endless mercies. He is the charming gopa  ( cowderder). We are his cows. 

          The Vijayanagar Empire sculptures are known for their ornate detailing. Although carved in granite or in basalt rocks, the sculptures are vibrant and lively. Devotion can turn the hardest rocks into gods.

Lord Shiva Begging before Godess Parvati

Lord Shiva Begging before Godess Parvati

 Lepakshi Temple, Andhra Pradesh, Vijayanagar Empire, 16th Century AD

          This sculpture depicts a very unusual story: Lord Shiva decides to have some fun at the expense of Godess Parvati.  He transforms himself into a dwarf and goes begging before the Godess.  Parvati not only gives him a basket full of rice, but also pours sambar onto the rice. The dwarf tugs at her sari, and pulls it half off, revealing her nakedness. Parvati realises that the dwarf could be no one else than Lord Shiva himself. 

           The story is not glorifying the outraging of modesty of a woman. It is a comment on the capacity of the intellect to strip nature to unravel its  secrets. Lord Shiva symbolises pure intellect, undisturbed, controlled intelligence.  Godess Parvati symbolises Nature with all of its warmth, and emotions. To understand Nature the intellect has to uncover its secrets. The story is a subtle way of telling people to encourage scientific temper.

Lord Brahma Playing the Mridangam

Lord Brahma Playing the Mridangam

 Lepakshi Temple,  Andhra Pradesh, Vijayanagar Empire,16th Century AD

             Initially Lord Brahma had five heads. The fifth head looked towards the sky. But when he chased his own daughter for lust,  Lord Shiva severed his fifth head off. Lord Brahma was left with four heads. The fifth head is the symbol of ego. A creator or an artist does fall in love with his/ her creation. For, creation feeds the ego. Hence, the need to get rid of ego, the fifth head. 

          Lord Brahma is said to have four heads as truth is reality is multi - dimensional. It can be appreciated from different angles. Thus, the need to accept various perspectives
        The Mridangam is the symbol of time--the rhythmic cycle of time, of creativity, of language, of civilisation.  Therefore, Lord Brahma playing the Mridangam. 

Madonna and the Child with St. Anne

Madonna and the Child with St. Anne

 by Leonardo da Vinci, 16th Century AD.

             St. Anne was Virgin Mary's mother. She sits in her mother's lap while trying to pick up her son, Jesus who is playing with a lamb--the sacrificial lamb--symbol of sacrifice of Jesus for Mankind. 

            After having painted Mona Lisa, all the figures of Leonardo had the beguiling smile. The endless mountains and the smile are his signature marks.

A Nayika ( A Heroine)

A Nayika ( A Heroine)

From Lepakshi Temple in Andhra Pradesh, Vijayanagar Empire, 16th Century AD.

          The Vijayanagar Empire was world known for its fabulous riches. With its capital at Hampi, on the Tungabhadra River, it ruled over the most fertile parts of the Deccan. 

         The opulence  of its people is well reflected in this Nayika. Young, tallish, stylish, bejewelled, poised, she stands with an air of confidence and exuberance . She is not a docile woman, but one who commands respect and obedience. She is the true woman. 

The Stone Chariot

The Stone Chariot

Hampi, Vijaynagar  Empire, 16th Century AD

        Huge wooden chariots are common in South Indian and Eastern Indian temples.  These chariots are used for taking the deity out for his annual ride through the city. It was a means to bind the worshipers and the worshiped.  Here we see a chariot done in stone. It was most likely carved out a single boulder. Surprisingly the chariot is being pulled by two elephants. But the elephants are dwarfed by the chariot. Although  a miniature model of the original wooden chariot, but by shrinking the elephants the sculptor has made the chariot look huge. A huge endeavour  has to be made to pull the 'rath' of faith on the road to Nirvana or Moksha.