Goddess Durga

Goddess Durga

Wooden Sculpture, 15th Century, Kerala

           Another beautiful and unusual sculpture in the Thiruvananthapuram Museum.  Wood is not as popular medium for sculpture in India as is stone. But there is a continuous tradition of wood carvings in India. Bengal,  Gujarat,  Karnataka and Kerala are centers for exquisite wood work and wood sculpture.  This statue of Goddess Durga shows the dexterity of the sculptor in depicting not only the fine jewellery, but also in portraying the fierce expression of the face. 

         This sculpture is unique in two ways: firstly, it does not depict the Goddess riding the lion. But shows her standing on him. Secondly, the ornate jewellery,  the mask like face, the flamboyant headress seems to show the influence of both Kathakali, a classical dance from Kerala and of the folk dances of Kerala. Here one can see the impact of folk culture on the classical tradition. The artist has to speak the language of the common man in order to drive the story home. The sculpture, thus, testifies to the fusion of the classical tradition of Brahminism or Sanskritization of the south, and the strong undercurrent of the local community. It is a proof of our ability to assimilate different cultures and communities, traditions and philosophies.