Essay name: The Sculptures of Madan-Kamdev (Study)
Author:
Kamal Nayan Patowary
Affiliation: Gauhati University / Department of History
The essay critically studies the Sculptures of Madan-Kamdev: an archaeological site in Baihata Chariali, Kamrup, Assam (India) dating back to the 9th century A.D. The site features elegant sculptures in relief and round forms which are documented in Sanskrit texts like the Kalika Purana and Yogini Tantra.
Chapter 3 - Iconographic-sculptural study
16 (of 86)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
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with an ideal of fleshiness, now survived in case of this sculpture
only with an outward bulginess of the hip. This is a commonly
visible physiognomical feature of majority number of sculptures
at Madan-Kamdeva. Similarly, the sculpture also exposed a
common feature in terms of amalgamation of the concept of linear
and sinuous movement specially, in executing projection of hands.
Regarding chronology, the museum authority i.e. the
Directorate of Archaeology, Assam has already confirm it as being
a product of 11th/12th century A.D. But its disproportionate
elongation has left for us a scope to think about a new chronological
slot for this sculpture that it might have been a product of 10th/
11th century A.D. rather than 11th/12th century A.D.
Group-III :
Two other Surya sculpture (fig 1:5 and 1:6) of this rare
category can again virtually be place in an another group of
sculptural reproduction which have not only enriched the aesthetic
collection of the site museum but also have instituted a fresh lease
of life to the chronological parameter of the entire continuum of
sculptural product available at Madan-Kamdeva. Before entering
into this matter, the present condition as well as iconographical
composition of these two sculptures, in brief, are as follows:
Fig 1:5
a) Condition:
b) Length
c) Posture :
eroded
41 ½ cm Width : 21 cm
tribhanga
d) Hands
:
four
