Salibhanjika

Salibhanjika

Mathura School,1st Century AD

            Mathura School of sculpture was the first school of sculpture in India. It flourished during the Kushan Dynasty.  It was contemporaneous with the Gandhar School which flourished near Taxshila, now in Afghanistan.  

           While the Gandhar School was heavily influenced by Greek art, the Mathura School was indigenous.  This sculpture depicts the Indian concept of beauty: full bosoomed,  heavy hipped, bejewelled, at times even semi - nude (as here). It is very easy to identify sculptures of Mathura School as they are done in red sandstone which is easily available even today in the Mathura-Bharatpur area in U. P. and Rajasthan.  

          Salibhanjika is the most beautiful  woman of the village who is asked to kick the Sal tree so it blossoms.  She is a Yakshini who symbolises mother Nature.