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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

Page:

27 (of 86)


External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)


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88
lips are also full and its smiling context giving an impression of a
joyous state of mind in mundane pleasure. Square shoulder, broad
48 chest with prominent nipples, narrow middle, bulging abdomen
with eminently carve naval wide and 'fleshy hip * are some of the
other significant physiognomical aspect of this icon. Though the
tribhanga posture of the image has not been overstressed, but
still it serve its purpose of displacing the weight of the body to
other side. This is a peculiar technique often found to the aesthetic
product of 9th century A.D.50 Similarly, the fleshy stance of the
image, controlled within a definite outline, have a swelling tendency
(around its contour) thus, signaling to a conscious strength from
within. This predilection evolved itself into a shape of 'rounded
pad', indicating to a sense of petrifaction to seize the soft fleshy
character of the image. The left leg of the image has slightly been
put forward giving an impression of a movement. In this respect it
is also interesting to observe that the sculptor had carefully
attempted to execute knees of the leg, so to give an impression of
elasticity and pliability.51
The guardian authority of this site, Directorate of
Archaeology, Assam has already confirmed the date of its production
as 11th/12th century a generalised form of estimation made
applicable to all available sculpture conserve in the site museum.
48. This is a special feature of Pala-Sena Sculpture
49.
50.

51.
Mukherjee, B.N. : East Indian Art Style, 1980, pp.4-5.
Fleshyness in the hip - a late 9th century feature
Dutta, M. : Op-cit, 1990, p.77.
Majumdar, R.C.: Op-cit, 1943, p.541.
A 9th century feature
Ibid.

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