An exhibition “Return of the Three Stone Sculptures from Australia
to India” has begun in National Museum, Janpath, New Delhi. It has been
organised to mark the safe return of three stone sculptures (Seated Buddha; Worshippers of Buddha;
& Goddess Pratyangira) from Australia to India. These sculptures
were purchased by National Gallery of Australia from the Nancy Wiener, New York
in 2007 and Art of the Past, New York, 2005.
Minister of State (I/C) for Culture and Tourism Dr. Mahesh Sharma
inaugurated the exhibition yesterday. He attended a special event at National
Gallery of Australia (NGA) in Canberra, Australia in which Senator Mitch
Fifield formally handed over three ancient artefacts stolen and smuggled out of
India and inadvertently acquired by National Gallery of Australia.
Earlier, during the visit of Australian Prime Minister to India in
September, 2014, the Australian government had also returned sculpture of
‘Dancing Shiva’.
This exhibition is important as it celebrates the return of rare heritage
sculptures that were stolen from the country.
I.
The statue of Worshippers of the Buddha : (Satavahana, Ist Century BCE to 2nd Century CE,
Andhra Pradesh, South India, Lime Stone, size: 96.5x106.7x12.7cm). This
architecture piece adorning a stupa (possibly drum slab) is made of limestone.
The panel depicts the worship of some of the Buddhist symbol (possibly
chakrastambha or Bodhi tree but it is not visible as the piece is damaged
at the top) kept on a throne, below which the Buddha-pada are visible. The
central objects are flanked by worshipper couples on either sides in standing
posture. On both the sides, male worshippers are represented first followed by
the female worshippers. The most probable offering objects held in their hands
are vases with flower or garlands. This sculpture was unearthed in 1970s during
the excavation of a Buddhist stupa at Chandavaram (District, Prakasham) in
Andhra Pradesh.
II. Seated Buddha with large halo : (Kushan, 2nd century CE, Maholi,
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh Spotted Red sand stone, size: 129.5x101.5x30.5cm). This
image represents the Buddha seated cross legged (Padmasana) wearing ekansika
sanghati (drapery covering one shoulder and arrayed with additional
pleats). The transparent effect of the cloth is apparent through the conspicuous
marking of the navel. The image indicates that the right hand was raised in the
abhaya mudra (protection pose) and the left rests on the thigh. The
large halo with a scalped border (hasti nakha) emerges just above the
waist. He is shown with an urna, pralamba karna (elongated ear-lobes), ushnisha
and with a filing contemplation on his face.
III. Standing Pratyangira : (Chola,
13th Century CE, Tamil Nadu, South India Grey coloured granite
stone, size: 125.1x55.9x30.5cm). In order to carry out his supreme task of
preservation, Lord Vishnu took incarnation in the form of Narasimha in which he
is represented by a human body and a lion’s head, who destroyed the demon kind
Hiranykashipu, the personification of evil. The deity represented here is a
tantric deity who is the female aspect of God Narasimha also known as
Narasimhi. She is invoked in the Sadhanamala also. She is standing in pralambapadita
pose, the face of a roaring and furious lion while the body is of a female.
Flames are coming out of her head. However, the attributes tridents (trisula)
and drum (damaru) in her right hands suggest her to be Pratyangira,
a form of Bhairavi as per Saivite cult. The image was under worship in
Vriddhachalam temple near Chennai before its theft.
*****
Sanjay Kumar/jk/Culture-02/24/05/2017