Dancing Ganesh

Dancing Ganesh

Pala Dynasty, 10th Century AD

          While Lord Shiva is often portrayed as "Natraj", the Lord of dancing, His son, Lord Ganesh is no less a dancer. While Shiva dances in anger, Ganesh dances with a sense of joy. 

          He symbolises the universe in motion, full of energy,  in rhythm, ever changing and ever lasting. Here even Ganesh ' s vehicle,  the mouse, is keeping in step with his master. The mouse is the symbol of a sharp and inquisitive mind. Like the mouse, the mind searches  the mysteries of the universe.  It goes deep into a subject. It rejoices in discoveries. 

Bodhisattva Padampani

Bodhisattva Padampani

Pala Dynasty,10th Century AD

Bodhisattva Padampani is known as the Bodhisattva of compassion. Hence his downward gaze at the devotees. Bodhisattvas are unique to Buddhism. Like Lord Buddha they can reach Nirvana (the final release from the cycle of life and death), but they choose not to do so. They wish to come back to this 'mrityulok' (world of death) in order to relieve the miseries of the people. They are the noble souls we see around us. We can find them in our parents and servants, in our teachers and friends. We ourselves should strive to be like the Bodhisattva Padampani, the compassionate.

Lord Vishnu with Godess Laxmi and Godess Saraswati

Lord Vishnu with Godess Laxmi and Godess Saraswati

Pala Dynasty, 10th Century AD

According to the belief prevalent during the 10th century, Lord Vishnu was married to both Godesses Lakshmi and Saraswati. Hence, both the godesses are show in this sculpture. After all you need both money (wealth ) and learning in order to maintain the cosmos.

Lord Shiva in Meditation

Lord Shiva in Meditation

Pala Dynasty,10th Century AD

      Lord Shiva is the Mahayogi, the great Yogi, who sits in eternal meditation at Mt. Kailash, his abode. He is the ultimate symbol of a man who is able to control all his senses, who is detached from the material world, who is pure intellect or the mind. He is the ideal mendicant. In one hand, He holds the trident, the symbol of three states of consciousness--but which is controlled by the Mind--the staff of the trident. In another hand, He holds a 'damaru' , a small drum, symbol of the cycles of Time; in the third hand, He holds a rosary, symbol of deep concentration; in the fourth hand, He holds a water container, symbol of His ability to purify the world, to cleanse the world. He is the God of the gods, the Mahadev.

      But through Him, we are also warned about the adverse impact of too much of intellectualism: it is a barren, lifeless world without emotion, without warmth, without love and compassion. Objectivity has its limits. Thus He sits in the barren snowclad landscape of Mt. Kailash. In order to breath life into the cosmos, He had to be united with love, compassion, beauty, with emotions: hence His marriage with Godess Parvati.

            The world doesn't run just on pure intellectual thought, on mind; it has to be balanced with emotions, with the heart. Objectivity and subjectivity have to go hand in hand. Otherwise, it is a lifeless, a wild world, a wasteland.

Manjushri (The Buddhist Bodhisattva of Wisdom)

Manjushri (The Buddhist Bodhisattva of Wisdom)

Pala Dynasty,10th Century AD

Manjushri is the counterpart of Godess Saraswati and Lord Ganesh of Hinduism. He represents both learning and wisdom. For the latter is derived from the former. He holds a burning sword, a symbol of learning which cuts through our attachment to illusions (Maya) and makes us understand the ultimate reality, the Truth. He holds a rope to tie things together. He is, at times, shown as four headed, like Lord Brahma, as Truth can be interpreted in various different ways.

Such figures taught people to take to the path of enlightenment. They also taught the common man to respect divergent views within the society. Pluralism is in our blood.

Bhairav

Bhairav

Pala Dynasty, 10th Century AD

Born from twin locks of Lord Shiva, Bhairav is a powerful deity. Like Rudra, he is god of destruction. He destroys evil. Armed with a sword and a trident, he is ready to smite the evil in and around us. When faced with problems we beseech him to save us. Being a tantric figure, Bhairav drinks liquor as in the famous Bhairav temple at Ujjain.

Pala art travelled to Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan. Through there it influenced the sacred art of China, Korea and Japan. In China and Japan, Bhairav became door - guardians of the Pagodas in order to ward off any evil spirit.

Dancing Ganesh

Dancing Ganesh

Pala Dynasty,10th Century AD

The mouse has an ability to burrow deep into the earth. Likewise a learned and wise man can go deep into a subject. Thus, Lord Ganesh, the God of Wisdom, rides on a mouse.

Here He dances to the rhythm of time. While He holds an axe in one hand--symbol of his ability to punish and to get rid of obstacles, He holds a bowl of Ladoos--a sweet meat--symbol of his ability to give rewards for pious and good deeds.

Pala sculptures can be recognised easily as most of them are done in black stone. The Pala art travelled to Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and through there to China and Japan. Thus, it is the foundation of the sacred art of the Orient.