The Drummer

The Drummer

Gupta Dynasty,3rd Century AD, Kota Museum.

         A horse shoe window, a common motif in Gupta art and architecture, is the setting for a drummer. The body bent in a strong 'S' curve, the drummer beats out a rhythmic pattern. Indian music, whether Hindustani or Karnataka, is known for its rich rhythmes.  Music was and is an integral part of life in India.  Every auspicious occasion is ushered in by music. 

         From artistic point of view this piece is unique.  It depicts two 'makars'. But the almost resemble the dragons of Chinese Art.  Are these images imported from or exported to China, we do not know. Or are these two  images created independently across the Himalay,  we don't have a clue.

Devta

Devta

10th -11th Century AD. Kota Museum.

           Since the attributes  of this God have been broken, it is difficult to  identify  who He is. Most likely  it is Lord  Vishnu as He has four arms, but does not have three heads. Lord Shiva generally  is not shown with a protruding  belly. But this figure  has a slightly  protruding  belly. In fact, it is the belly which makes the sculpture  come alive. Since the stomach indicates the fact that a person is breathing, the Indian artist, from the days of the Indus Valley  Civilization,  has used the belly to breathe life into the figure.  This sculpture  is a fine example  of this technique. 

Breath is the essence  of life; so breathe easily!

The Lion and the Warrior

The Lion and the Warrior

 10th Century AD.  Kota  Museum.

         Although this figure is supposed  to represent  a lion, but at times it is a fusion of  different  animals. It symbolises  the wild untamed nature within us. We have to control our desires and instincts. We constantly  fight against it. We are the warriors. Since the warrior is below the lion, he has not succeeded  yet. There are other sculptures  where the warrior  rides the lion. He has succeeded  in taming his instincts and desires. The struggle is life long.

Lord Vishnu Sleeping on Sheshnaag

Lord Vishnu  Sleeping  on Sheshnaag

10th Century AD, Kota Museum

           This is another beautiful  sculpture  in the museum. There are various stories being narrated in this piece : firstly, Lord Vishnu sleeping on the coils of Sheshnag. The birth of Lord Brahma  from the naval  of Lord Vishnu. Goddess Lakshmi  massaging Lord Vishnu's foot. Two demons about to ensue a fight with Lord Vishnu.  They are  in the background. They are the two 'asuras' who emerged from the dirt accumulated  behind Lord Vishnu's ears. Both are about to attack Lord Vishnu. The ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu along with the nine planets  are on the top frieze. This is a piece  with multiple  narratives.
             Life is not linear. Different  events happen simultaneously.  Life itself has multiple  narrations. The sculptor  has depicted  the various  layers of the cosmos.

Agni Devta

 Agni Devta ( God of Fire )

 10th Century AD,Kota Museum

         Notice the flames coming  out of His head and the Ram at his feet. These are the two attributes of god of fire. Initially Agni was a very important  Vedic god. But subsequently  he was identified  with Surya, the Sun god and merged with Lord Vishnu. Like Lord Brahma and Brahaspati, Agni also sports a beard. But due to the bad condition  of this sculpture, it is not very visible.
        Agni is not only a natural element, but it is also a symbolic force which is suppose to burn our bad habits, bad thoughts  and ego. Thus, He is  a liberator.

Apsara

Apsara

10th  Century AD, Kota Museum

          This is the most stunning  sculpture  of the Kota  Museum.  An Apsara with a lotus in her hand. She gently walks or sways to music. Tallish, voluptuous,  bejeweled, ever young, ever smiling,  she is a classic  beauty. Surprisingly  she is rather  tallish which is unusual  in Indian Art. In Khajaraho  School  of sculpture the ideal woman is plumpish, and of average height.  Yet here the Apsara is slim, curvaceous and tall. It is only in the  Osia temple  in western Rajasthan  that we find tallish figures.

        The sculptor  has subtly suggested the swaying movement of the  Apsara. With her left leg and foot bent, with her right hip to the side, with her garment belt swinging in the opposite  direction  to the jutting  hip, one senses  the swaying  movement  of the sculpture.  A frozen sculpture  has come alive.

      Apsaras  are creatures of another world--of Indralok. The symbolise the bounty of Nature, the fertility  of Nature, the beauty  of Nature. They reflect the immortality  of the spirit, the eternity of our soul. This figure has captured the philosophy of Hindu aesthetics. It is, indeed, a masterpiece! 

Nav Grah

Nav Grah 

( The Nine  Planets ) 

12th  Century AD, Kota Museum.

               This piece  is part of a roof as the small ceiling  is done as a blossoming  lotus. Ketu' s figure is slightly damaged. Otherwise the rest of the planetary  figures stand as young gods. The dance-like posture reflects the grace, movement  and rhythm  of life.

Four Apsaras

Four Apsaras 

12th  Century  AD, Kota  Museum.

Two Ladies and the Dwarpal

Two Ladies and the Dwarpal ( the guard)

10th -11th Century AD, Kota Museum

                Notice the two ladies are wearing wrap-arounds (lungi like garments). This is similar to the national  dress for women in South-East Asian countries. There it is called "the Sarong". Indian art  and culture has strongly  influnced the South-East  Asian countries. That is why they are called Indo-Chinese countries. Once we too influenced  the global fashion.

Dancing Ganesh

Dancing  Ganesh

from Abhaneri near Jaipur, 10th Century  AD, Kota Museum

Lord Brahma

Lord  Brahma

10th  Century AD, Kota Museum.

       

          On both sides of Lord Brahma  are Lord Vishnu  and Lord  Shiva. Hence, again the Hindu Trinity is together. At His feet are two ladies, perhaps they are His two wives: Goddess  Saraswati  and Goddess  Gayatri. The serenity  of his face seems to show him in deep meditation --as though he is in deep thoughts before he initiates creation. He is the primordial  God, the creator.

A Lintel of a Door

10th  Century  AD, Kota Museum.


A Lintel  of a Door Depicting  Lord Brahma  and Lord Vishnu  along with Three Incarnations of Lord Vishnu: the Varha, the Narsimha, and the Vaman.

Lord Brahma with Goddess Saraswati

 Lord  Brahma with Goddess Saraswati

 10th -11th  Century AD, Kota Museum.

      A rare sculpture. For while Lord Vishnu  and Goddess Lakshmi  are shown in an embrace, Lord Brahma  and Goddess Saraswati  never are. Goddess  Saraswati  is considered  the purest of the Goddesses. But here Lord Brahma  embraces his wife, Goddess  Saraswati.  For without learning  there can be no creation.

Agni Devta

Agni  Devta (God of Fire)

10th  Century  AD,  Kota Museum.

Lord Yama, the Lord of Death

Lord  Yama, the Lord of Death

10th  Century  AD,Kota Museum

A Devta

A Devta (A Divine Deity )


 11th  Century  AD,  Kota Museum

Dancing Ganesh

Dancing  Ganesh 

 from Abhaneri, 10th Century AD, Kota Museum

Apsara

Apsara

10th Century AD, Kota Museum

Lord Kartikay--The God of War

Lord  Kartikay--The God of War

 10th -11th Century AD, Kota Museum