Lord Surya ( The Sun God )

Lord Surya ( The Sun God )

Konark Temple,Eastern Ganga Dynasty,13th Century CE, National Museum, New Delhi

      Imported by the Kushan Kings in the 1st Century CE, from Iran, Lord Surya is a late entry in the Hindu pantheon. As Hinduism developed, He was fused with Lord Vishnu and came to be called Suryanarayan. 

       His western ancestry is reflected in His attire : usually He wears a squarish crown. He is the only god who is depicted with boots. He is shown either standing or squatting.  His chariot is said to be pulled by seven  "green" horses. 

       Amongst the nine planets in Hindu astronomy,  He is considered to be the most powerful.  Praying to Him is supposed to bring good health and great wealth. Even according to science tells us that vitamin D is essential for the body.

        With the rise of scientific temper, with industrial revolution, we had forgotten the importance of the Sun. But with concept of solar energy gaining ground, again Sun has become important. The wisdom of the ancients is dawning on the moderns. 

Lord Vishnu

 Lord Vishnu

Chola Dynasty,10th Century AD,National Museum, New Delhi

          This is a fine example of Chola sculpture in stone. Although the Chola Dynasty is more known for their bronzes, but being great builders of huge temples, the Chola sculptors excelled in their art. Granite is a hard stone to carve. While the Pallava artists had difficulty in carving in granite, the Chola sculptors had mastered the stone. From Pallava to Chola to Vijayanagar we move from simple carving to more ornate to the most ornate sculptures in South India.

          Lord Vishnu is the preserver of the universe. He teaches us to preserve the civilisation through assimilation,  through compassion and and love. Instead of antagonism,  he teaches us harmony in relationship, in doing our duty, in accepting even those who are different from us. Did Lord Ram not accept Sugrive and Hanuman?  Did Krishna not accept Sudama? If we wish to thrive and prosper, we have no option but to accept assimilation as our philosophy.  Those who believed in annihilation, like the Greeks and Romans, they are in ruins. Choice is ours! 

Mohini

Mohini

Chalukya Dynasty,8th Century AD, National Museum, New Delhi

           In order to steal nectar from the demons, Lord Vishnu turned himself into a beautiful damsel. She entices the demons with her radiant beauty. And at the appropriate moment runs away with the pitcher of nectar. A few drops fall on earth on "Saradpurnima". The rest of the nectar is given to the gods so they can become immortals. 

           Having adorned herself, Mohini puts on the last ornament on her head, the "bendi". The mirror is the symbol of introspection.  When we introspect, we see the real self. We begin to remove our bad habits and adorn ourselves with good deeds, and with goodness. Immortality is reached when we gain higher consciousness. The nectar is within us. We merely need to snatch it away from our demons. We are all Mohinis.

          Although Mohini is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, but it is not counted as one of his ten incarnations. Is it that we don't wish to give an important role to woman in our mythology.  Is it that woman was seen as merely enticing? Or women are seen as holder of elixir of life? Why a minor role to Mohini amongst the incarnations of Lord Vishnu? These are puzzling issues to ponder. 

Birth of Lord Krishna

Birth of Lord Krishna

Kangra Miniature by Fattu. Mid- 1770s, National Museum, New Delhi

            Today is Janamashthami, the birth day of Lord Krishna. The famous painter of Kangra School, Fattu has illustrated the Bhagwat Puran.  Let me take you through his masterpieces.  

            Yashoda has woken up in the morning. She thinks she has given birth to a male child. In the ladies quarter ( zannana) she sits with Krishna, who is suckling her. Women have gathered. They offer her the blades of 'Kush' grass. There is the old midwife who seems to be instructing her in feeding technique. 

           Meanwhile,  news has travelled through Vrindawan that Nanda has been blessed with a son. The dancer, the musicians have started the celebrations; the people are thronging the "palace". An old woman, a Brahmin with his skull cap, a young woman have reached the door of the "palace" only to be let in by the old doorkeeper and the maid. 

           The celebrations of Janamashthami have begun !

           The painting is  unique for its fusion of Mughal miniature art with the Pahari art of Kangra School.  Most importantly, it tells us about the social customs, the social segregation, the social relationship between the headman of the village, Nanda, and the villagers. Fattu has a unique way of capturing the different strata of society and presenting them in an interesting manner. 

           Lord Krishna has started showing his 'lela' ( illusions) the moment he is born. Though not the son of Yashoda and Nanda, he is Nandalal  ( the son of Nanda). His divine presence attracts one and all. In His presence we are all equal. Let us celebrate that equanimity.  Let us celebrate life! 

Flying Gandharva and Apsara

Flying Gandharva and Apsara

Chalukyan Dynasty,8th Century AD,National Museum, New Delhi

          Lord Indra ' s palace is full of Gandharvas and Apsaras.  They are the musicians and the dancers of his court. They are the Hindu  counterpart of Christian angles. Like the angels they are divine beings who are closer to the gods than mortals. Man is said to be between the angels and the beast. It is up to us to ascend the ladder and become angels,  or to descend the ladder and become the beast. 

          Chalukyan art had a great influence both on Indian and Chinese Art.  These flying figures became the proto - type for divine beings both in Hindu art and in Buddhist art of China and Japan. Globalisation of Asian art began from India. 

Lord Harihhar

Lord Harihhar

Khajaraho School, 10th Century AD,  National Museum, New Delhi

            One of the most unique gods in India is Lord Harihar. According to the Puranas Lord Shiva was struck by the beauty of Mohini  (Lord Vishnu in a female form). They had physical relationship.  Harihar is the child of that union. He is half Hari--Lord Vishnu, and half Har--Lord Shiva. Thus he has the quality of both: he meditates, yet he maintains the world with his powers. 

            Historically it was important to invent him. For in ancient India disputes regularly erupted between Vaishnavs,  the followers of Lord Vishnu , and Shaivites,  the followers of Lord Shiva. It was better to assimilate them than to annihilate each other. 

            Although Harihar is hardly worshipped now except at Bhuveneshwar, but he is the symbol of Hinduism ' s ability to absorb and resolve conflicts. He is also an example of fluidity of sexual identity in Indian mind.  He is relevant for the post - modern world.

Ek Mukhi Linga (One faced Linga)

 

Ek Mukhi Linga (One faced Linga)



Gupta Dynasty,3rd Century AD.,National Museum, New Delhi

           Vedic people were perhaps not idol worshippers. The spoke of God in abstract terms. He was 'nirguna' (one without specific attributes). For, God is an amalgamation of opposites.  It was only after India went through the Buddhist phase, that Hinduism re - emerged with 'saguna' Gods.  The Gods were given specific attributes and were seen in human form.  

           This sculpture depicts Lord Shiva both in his abstract form as a 'linga'--a phallic symbol, and as a human face. Thus, it combines both the nirguna and the saguna aspects of God. Here Lord Shiva is shown as one faced. But a Shiva Linga can also be multifaced. The Shiva Linga is a symbol of the creative, and generative energy of Nature: the most powerful energy in the cosmos

Lord Yama

Lord Yama

Odisha School, 12th  Century AD, National Museum,New Delhi.

            Having committed incest with his twin sister, Yami or Yammuna, Yama was banished to the underworld. He became the God of Death.  Since he adjudges the deeds of each of us after our death, he is also called Dharamraj or the God of Justice. In Mahabharata, the famous Hindu epic, He is Yudhistir's father. He poses the most difficult questions to Yudhistir in order to test his knowledge of Dharma. 

            Yama or Yamaraj is shown as a bearded person, riding a  water buffalo, carrying a rope with a loop, in order to drag the dead to his Kingdom.  There are few stories about Lord Yama such as the story of Nachiketa, in Katho Upnishad, the story of Savitri, and the story of Markandeyaha. In all of them Lord Yama plays a pivotal role. 

            Lord Yama is worshipped on Dhantaras that is two days before Diwali, the festival of lights. It is believed that if we worship Him on the said day, He will not visit our house for the rest of the year. 

Gautam Buddha

Gautam Buddha 

Gupta Dynasty,3rd Century AD, National Museum, New Delhi

             Like Christianity and Islam, Buddhism spread all over the world. Like Jesus and Prophet Muhammad, Buddha was a reformer who established his own religion. Critical of ritualism of Hinduism, questioning the elitist attitude of the Brahmins,  Buddha taught simple principles of life, in simple vernacular language of the people, while defying the rigid caste system of the day. As a leader, he was pro - people,  pro-poor. He understood the pain and agony of the people. He showed them the path of Liberation from the cycle of life and death.

           The Gupta sculptor has caught the serenity, the humility,  and the divinity of Buddha. This image became the model of for most of the artist of Asia. With spread of Buddhism, Indian art also travelled throughout Asia. We were a global power in Philosophy, Religion and Arts.

Goddess Swaraswati

Goddess Swaraswati 

Mt. Adu,  Dilwara Temple,14th Century AD,National Museum, New Delhi

           Considered to be the purest of the three Goddesses, Goddess Swaraswati is the goddess of learning and wisdom. Without learning there can be no creation. Thus, She is the shakti (power) of Lord Brahma, the creator.  According to Hindu iconography all goddesses are to be depicted as eternally young, bejewelled, and bare chested. Here even Goddess Swaraswati is shown as bare chested. But when M. F. Hussain painted her thus, a national outcry was raised as offending religious sentiments. Bare chest is merely symbolic of the life giving energy which is so essential for survival. Goddesses personify the life energy. Thus, they are bare from the top. 

          Despite the fact that Japan happens to be a Buddhist nation, Goddess Swaraswati is the second most popular diety in Japan , after Lord Buddha. We are progressively forgetting her as a Hindu diety.

Lord Ganesh

Lord Ganesh

Kangra School, 18th Century AD, National Museum, New Delhi



           A very unusual painting of Lord Ganesh. Generally He is shown as fair skinned person, but here He is shown in vermillion color. He rarely carries a rosary in his hand, yet here He does. He is hardly ever portrayed with a lotus, but He is carrying a lotus here. Although He does wear a serpant as a belt on his stomach, here the serpant is around his neck.

           His vermilion color points towards the strength of wisdom; the rosary to meditation; the axe to the ability of learning and wisdom to cut through every difficulty / obstacles;  lotus to beauty and reward; the snake to the ability to rejuvenate and life. He sits on a white lotus--pointing towards the ability to detach oneself from the material world. The image is as much of a God, as it is of a wise Man or a sage. 

Bodhisattva Manjushri

Bodhisattva  Manjushri

Palau Dynasty,10th Century AD,National Museum, New Delhi

            The Palate dynasty were great patrons of art and architecture. The largest stupa was built under them and can be found in what is today called Bangladesh. They patronised both Buddhism and Hinduism. The figures in their sculptures are tallish, slim, graceful and serene. In their simplicity and elegance and tranquility they carry the tradition of Gutta art. 

           Bodhisattva are Buddhist figures who forgo Nirvana in order to save the people from their miseries. We all are innate Bodhisattvas.  The need is merely to take on salvation of others on our shoulders. 

Kal Bhairav

 Kal Bhairav

 Khajaraho School, 11th Century AD,  National Museum, New Delhi

          Kal Bhairav represents the destructive side of Lord Shiva. In order to destroy evil He causes natural calamities. Although he is supposed to be ferocious looking, here he is represented as a bearded young man. He holds a bell in his left upper hand, which symbolises Time. In other hands, He would have held a bowl of fire, a severed head of a demon, and an axe or other sharp edged weapon. 

           Although we mortals live as though we are immortals, but natural calamities remind us of our fragile existence.