Sadashiva ( A form of Lord Shiva)

Sadashiva ( A form of Lord Shiva)

Prathihara Dynasty, 10th Century CE, Bhopal Museum

            One of the most unusual  sculptures of the Bhopal Museum is this figure of Sadashiva. Lord Shiva in his form as a Trinity, as the creator, the preserver and as the destroyer,  is called Sadashiva. In the Elephanta Caves He is shown with three male heads. Surprisingly here He is depicted with two female heads: of Parvati and Chamunda. This clearly reflects the influence of Tantra art on this sculpture.  The influence of Tantrism is not surprising as Tantrism, an occult form of Hinduism was at its zenith in the 10th Century CE. But the sheer size of the sculpture, almost life - size, reveals the importance of the figure in a temple.  

            The inclusion of Goddess Parvati and of Goddess Chamunda is significant.  Parvati holds a mirror on the left side of the figure; Chamunda is drinking blood from a bowl on the right side of the figure. While Parvati is depicted as a young and a beautiful woman, Chamunda is portrayed as a hideous and ferocious looking woman. Both depict the twin aspect of Nature: the calm, the serene, the benevolent is Parvati; the destructive, the violent is Chamunda.  The Lord sits calmly between the two extremes. 

            Our mind is also like Sadashiva.  It has both the creative and the destructive sides to it. But a detached persons is full of equanimity, full of serenity, full of compassion, like the Lord Himself. Like Shiva we also have our desires around our neck/ waist (as in this sculpture ).  But a Yogi keeps the desires under control. This figure is as much a reflection of the prevalent process in the Universe as it is about human psychology.  It, thus, represents both the micro and the macro levels of existence.  

            Like all great Indian sculptures, this figure reflects a great philosophical concept.

Uma - Maheshwar ( Lord Shiva with Goddess Uma)

Uma - Maheshwar ( Lord Shiva with Goddess Uma)

Prathihara Dynasty,10th Century CE, Bhopal Museum

             After the sudden death of Sati, Lord Shiva retreated into the Mt. Kailash and sat in deep meditation. His withdrawal froze the landscape and everything became desolate.  The gods were worried. Absolute control over the desires leads to a lifeless existence.  Shiva had to be aroused from the deep meditation.  Lord Kama was sent, but he was burnt. Only Gauri or Uma could win his heart, but through austerity. She won. She domesticated his wild nature. 

            Here They sit in each others company. She looks at Him with deep reverence. He at Her, with deep love. The cosmos revolves around them. Lord Brahma stands on top left, Lord Vishnu on top right, Ganesh sits on bottom left, and Kartikeya on right bottom of the viewer.  

           When we lose someone, we too become shell shocked. We need to be brought out of our mourning.  The desire to live, to prosper, to excel needs to be rekindled. Nature, in all Her splendour  ( Goddess Uma) smoothens the harsh edges of the intellect. She draws us back into the beauty of life. We begin to create (Brahma), we begin to preserve  (Vishnu ); we work with wisdom (Ganesh ), and with force (Kartikeya ). All is well.

Lord Surya ( The Sun God )

Lord Surya ( The Sun God )

Prathihara Dynasty, 10th Century CE, Bhopal Museum

           One of the finest sculptures of the Bhopal Museum is this small statue of Lord Surya. The museum has a good collection of sculptures from Hinglajgarh   in M. P. The history of the city of Hinglajgarh is unknown.  But it's sculptures can compete with the finest sculptures of Khajaraho.  Although both belong to the Khajaraho School,  the sculptures from Hinglajgarh are more finely chiselled, are more delicate,  and are more well proportioned than the figures from Khajaraho.  Whether these figures belong to the same temple or come from different temples is also u known.  But the high quality of work testifies to the prosperity of the city, and to the high aesthetics of the people.  

           Today is Lord Surya ' s day as today is Raviwaar.  The Lord holds two lotus in his hands. Like many flowers the lotus also opens and closes according to the sun. Since it floats on murky water, it is the symbol for the human mind and soul. It is said that when the highest "Chakra" ( wheel) of the mind opens, it is like the blossoming of a lotus with thousand petals. Thus, the mind has to be as wife encompassing as the rays of the Sun. 

           According to Valmiki, the author of Ramayan, the Sun causes the division of time. Without the Sun there would be no day and night. It causes the change in the seasons; it causes the rains. It also dispels the darkness of the mind and the soul. It is omnipotent and omnipresent.  It is said to be the God of Gods. Even Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva are said to worship Lord Surya. For it is Surya who is the source of all energy; He is the source of life. Life exists as long as our minds are open  like the thousand petal lotus. 

Vrishabha

Vrishabha

Prathihara Dynasty, 10th Century AD, Kolkata Museum

          One of the most unique pieces of Hindu iconography: a goddess with the head of a bull! This sculpture is highly symbolic. The goddess is none other than Parvati who holds her infant child Ganesh in her arm. She has the head of Nandi,  the bull, Lord Shiva 's vehicle.  The vehicle of the goddess, the Lion, roars at her feet. Although the figure must have been a ten - handed sculpture,  but presently only three hands survive. 

         The goddess symbolises Nature. Like the bull, it is unpredictable;  like the lion, it is all powerful.  But it can be tamed by wisdom. What is true of mother Nature is equally true of us. Our mind is untamed, bull - headed,  violent, deadly. But can be tamed by wisdom. 

Dancing Ganesh

Dancing Ganesh

Prathihara Dynasty, 10th Century AD


          With an ancient ancestry,  with deep philosophical symbolism, with a wide range of devotees internationally, Lord Ganesh blesses us all. Seals of Indus Valley Civilisation have a man - elephant  image. But as a god Lord Ganesh appears for the first time in the Deccan in post - Gupta period. Initially he is associated with crops and harvest, especially of sugar cane. He continues to be most popular in the sugarcane growing areas. Subsequently,  he is transformed into god of wisdom.
Since Elephants have the best memory in the animal world, the elephant is seen as a symbol of wisdom. The large ears symbolise the ability to hear well; the trunk, the flexibility of the mind to pick up the slightest things; the half broken tusk, the ability to write; the pot belly, the ability to digest knowledge; the snake, the ever changing, rejuvenating life; the dancing Ganesh, the permanence and the ever changing nature of the universe. Dance is full of motion and rhythm --life is full of turns and twists. Rhythm--the sense of Time. The Lord represents our lives, our experiences, our world, our universe.
           Lord Ganesh is not just confined to India, but is also worshipped in Indo-China, in Tibet, in Java, Sumatra, Bali and even in Japan.
          He has been depicted from the most profane to the most sacred images: from riding bicycles and sitting on a rocking chair or playing cricket to the most abstract images in rocks to elaborately carved statues of Hoysala temples.
         He continues to dance in our mind, heart and soul.

Salabhanjika

Salabhanjika

Prathihara Dynasty, 9th Century AD, Gwalior Museum

         Considered the Mona Lisa of India, this sculpture of Salabhanjika is the best known sculpture of the Gwalior Museum.  

         The Yakshini is beautifully jewelled, bedecked with a heavy coiffure --to the point that it tilts her head towards her left side; she steps forward, revealing her  thighs; her skirt is tide on the side, but is just about to come off. She has a mysterious smile. As in  Mona Lisa we do not know the reason for her smile: is she thinking of a lover, or of her husband--the Yaksha, or looking at the pranks of a child, or thinking of her own beauty,  or perhaps smiling at human folly.  

          She is young and divine.  She is a thing of beauty, a joy for ever.