Natraj

Natraj

Bronze Figure from South India, 18th Century AD,Thiruvananthapuram Museum, Kerala.

      Although this a bronze figure, it is unclear as to which part of South India it comes from. Whether it is a Chola Bronze or from Kerala itself, this is an issue which is ambiguous.  The fact that is claimed to be from the 18th century certainly excludes it from being a Chola Bronze for the Chola Dynasty was over by this age. 

     Despite its origin being unclear, the sculpture is lively and unique. The turn of the body, the uplifted leg make the figure come alive. It is unique as the ring of fire is not circular,  but more elliptical,  more like an arch. The figure is more delicate.  Notice the way, the fire is held between two fingers as though a flame has been plucked rather than being held in the hand. These differences clearly point to the "formulistic " usage of the posture, rather than innovating a new iconography. By the 18th century we has become imitators and we're no longer inventors. The decline had set in.

The Courtesan and the Customer

The Courtesan and the Customer

South Indian Sculpture, 18th Century AD

         Like Gujarat, South India is famous for its wood carvings.   Sociologically speaking, this is a very interesting piece. For it does not depict gods or goddesses.  It depicts the relationship between s courtesan and her rich client. Having done with her, he turns to leave her, still carrying his bag of monies. She continues to play the violin. Interestingly she plays a Western instrument and not an Indian one. Has the artist given her a Western instrument in order to depict her social and cultural isolation? Her pitiable condition as a means of satisfying people's lust is writ large. It is a sculpture which celebrate the darker an tragic side of life.

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. 

Laxman Pulls Out a Thorne from Lord Ram's Feet

Laxman Pulls Out a Thorne from Lord Ram's Feet

Kangra School,18th Century AD.
Today the ideal Man, Ram was born. But even the ideal Man had to suffer difficulties throughout his life. But he bore them heroically. The Crown Prince of Ayodhya has a thorn in his feet. While his dutiful wife fans him, Laxman pulls out his thorn. Hanuman ji is busy drinking water. A deer killed by the two brothers lies by their side. Surprisingly, the deer is their meal. Throughout our lives, we will meet our difficulties. But like Ram we must bear them stoically. Life is, at times, a wilderness.

Raga Hindola or The Month of Faghun

Raga Hindola or The Month of Faghun

Kangra School, 18th Century AD

Depicting the joy and gaiety of Holi festival, this miniature painting depicts either Raga Hindola--as the swing is a prominent image, or if part of a Barahmasa series, then it depicts the month of Faghun.

The painting has all the colours and music, the young women and young men of Holi. Happy Holi