Bhairav

Bhairav

Paramar Dynasty,11th Century AD, Indore Museum

        Lord Shiva was furious at the sudden death of Sati, his wife. She had gone uninvited to her father's home. Hearing the insults about her husband, Lord Shiva, she had jumped into the sacrificial fire. When Lord Shiva realised that his wife had committed suicide he rushed to his father -in- laws palace. It is said there he plucked two hair strands from his head; from the hair strands arose Bhairav--a violent form of Lord Shiva. He had eight arms, each carrying arms or drums (symbol of time), he has a belt of bells ( symbol of eternal vibrations in Nature), he is naked (symbol of total detachment ) has a dog as his vehicle (symbol of attachment that mortals have). 

        In Hindu iconography it is easy to recognise an image of Bhairav. He is naked, at times bearded, has dishevelled hair--or hair protruding like a halo in the back of the head as in this sculpture ), carries weapons and at times a skull or a bowl (the bowl of fire), at times has bulging eyes and even fangs. The sculpture is supposed to depict the violent side and is thus meant to look ferocious in appearance.

      Interestingly in order to appease Him, the devotee is to offer him alcohol or drugs. The most famous temple of Bhairav is in Ujjain where the image drinks liquor!

Goddess Chamunda

Goddess Chamunda

Paramar Dynasty,10th Century AD, Indore Museum

         She is more ferocious than Goddess Kali. She is the most frightening looking Goddess in the Hindu pantheon.  She is Goddess Chamunda. Skeltal in appearance,  with protruding ribs, dried up hanging breasts,  a sunken face, with protruding eyes, laughing grotesquely,  with a garland of skulls, She depicts Nature in its most violent and ferocious form. 

      According to legend Goddess Durga was proposed by two demons who were brothers : Chand and Munda. She challenged them to a battle. Taking on the grotesque form, She killed both of them. Hence, the name Chamunda or 'Chand Munda Vinashni ' ( the slayer of Chand and Munda). 

To tackle evil, one should also have the physical prowess like the evil. But one must kill evil for the sake of protecting the good. The Divine Mother transformed Herself, only in order to restore law and order in the universe. She may be 'demonic looking', but She is Divinity in her heart and soul. 

Devi Crushing Lord Ganesh

Devi Crushing Lord Ganesh

Paramar Dynasty,10th Century AD,Indore Museum

         A rare piece indeed. Lord Ganesh is generally shown as sitting by a Devi, either with Goddess Swaraswati or Goddess Lakshmi or with the Seven Mothers (Sapta Matrike ). But here He is being trampled under the weight of the Goddess. 

       The Goddess here is a form of Shakti. Historically this piece indicates the rise of the Shakti cult during the medieval period. But philosophically it makes a very strong statement : when reason and wisdom is crushed, destruction prevails. Destruction is important and necessary to get rid of that which is bad or evil. But to destroy reason, intellect and wisdom only invites chaos, anarchy and annihilation.