Vajratara

 Vajratara

 Pratihara Dynasty, 12th Century AD

        Goddess Tara is the goddess of compassion in Buddhist pantheon.  Vajratara is a manifestation of hers who protects the people from natural calamities like floods and earthquakes. She also protects us from inner illnesses. 

       This beautiful image speaks about the popularity of Buddhism even in the 12th century. It is also a testimony of diversity of religion as Buddhism was peacefully coexisting with Hinduism and Jainism. 

       Diversity and plurality arre part of our cultural genenorm.

Dancer

Dancer

Hoysalawara Temple,Hoysala Dynasty, 12th Century AD

           The sculptures of dancers have preserved the legacy of classical Indian dances well. Classical dances have an ancient history and a modern rediscovery. Bharat Muni had written his Bharatnatya Shastra--a treatise on Drama--in 2nd century BC. But during the medieval period dance died out as a living art. It is only in the beginning of the 20th century that it was rediscovered by famous dancers like Uday Shankar and Rukmani Devi.

These dancers went back to the sculptures of temples at Tanjore and Chidambram to see the postures, the gestures of the dancers.

Today India has six classical dances: Kathak from Jaipur and Lucknow, Kathakali from Kerala, Bharatnatyam from Tamil Nadu, Manipuri from Manipur, Odissi from Odissa, Kuchipudi from Andhra Pradesh. The extent of dances from the four corners of the nation proves their lasting traditions and popularity.

A Lady with a Parrot

A Lady with a Parrot

Belur Temple,Karnataka,Hoysala Dynasty,12th Century AD

The relationship between woman and a bird is an ancient one. In Sanskrit literature there are stories about women talking to a parrot. During the Mughal period these stories were translated into Persian and came to be known as "Tutinama".

Parrot is the symbol of love in Hindu mythology as it is the vehicle of Kama, the god of love. The lonely woman confined behind the walls of her palace, thus, speaks to the parrot about her loneliness, about her desires and about her love for the hero. In turn, the parrot tells her stories to keep her entertained. Through this dialogue many practical tips, many comments are made about the world at large. The parrot, therefore, is not only a source of entertainment, but is also a source of enlightenment.

The Hoysala sculptor depicts the woman elegantly attired, standing solemnly, paying attention to what the parrot has to say. The jewelery, the voluptuous figure captures the yourh of the woman who is being made wiser by the bird. It is a poignant moment of loneliness, of learning.

Goddess Chamunda

Goddess Chamunda

Hoysalawara Temple, Karnataka,12th Century AD

Considered the most ferocious form of Goddess Durga, Goddess Chamunda is depicted as a woman in fury. Having decapitated the demon, she dances with time. She is surrounded by skeletons representing death and total destruction. As the protectress of the cosmos, the Great Mother destroys what is evil, what is chaos. She restores order into disorder.

Although the Hoysala sculptor worked with medium size stones, he lent monumentality to the sculptures by contrasting small figures with large ones. This sculpture is awe inspiring.

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on Nandi, the Bull

Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati on Nandi, the Bull

Hoysalawara Temple, Karnataka, 12th Century AD

  In Shiva Puran there is a story about Goddess Parvati ask Lord Shiva to take her through a city after their marriage. At every step the people criticised the couple for riding on the Bull or for not riding on the Bull. No matter what ine does, you cannt please all the people all the time is the message of the story and of this sculpture.

A Wall of the Somanathpuram Temple with Hindu Gods

A Wall of the Somanathpuram Temple with Hindu Gods

 Hoysala Dynasty,12th century AD

      The Hoysala Dynasty established a new trend in Indian architecture: the star shaped temples. The edges of the star gave ample surface to the sculptors to depict the Hindu Pantheon and to portray the Puranic stories. Made out of soap stone, these temples are full of intricate carvings. They are a marvellous fusion of art, architecture, sculpture, myth and engineering.

Lord Ganesh

Lord Ganesh

Hoysala Dynasty, 12th century AD, Karnataka