'Some masks from eastern/north-eastern india' by K.J.S.Chatrath

On a recent visit to Kolkata I went and spent some time at the museum.  The Indian Museum is the largest and oldest museum in India and has rare collections of antiques, armour and ornaments, fossils, skeletons, mummies, and Mughal paintings. It was founded by the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Kolkata, India, in 1814. 

Address: 27, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd, Kolkata, West Bengal 700016; Hours: 10AM–5PM; website: 

http://indianmuseumkolkata.org/

I bought some picture postcards from the shop of the museum. Here is a set of 6, showing masks of Eastern and north-eastern India. 

Mask of Chamunda Kali, Gambhira dance, Malda, West Bengal. 

Mask of Ganesh, Bali Yatra, Gadaba, Koraput, Odisha.

Mask of Garur, Bhaona mask, Sibsagar, Assam.

 

  Mask of Hiranyakishapu, Satriya dance, Sibsagar, Assam.

Mask of Ravana, Chou dance, Purulia, West Bengal.

Mask of Krishna, Chou  dance, Purulia, West Bengal.

Those interested in getting deeper into the subject may like to visit:

http://www.dollsofindia.com/library/mask/,

http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/masks/, & 

http://www.ibiblio.org/gautam/heri0016.htm

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'Statue of Lord Vishnu, circa 9th century A.D.'.............K.J.S.Chatrath

 

 This statue of Lord Vishnu, circa 9th century A.D. was discovered in Agroha in Haryana in India. It is on display in the Government Museum, Chandigarh.

In this sculpture Lord Vishnu is seen standing on a pedestal with the carving of lotus mark. There is rectangular back slab, the edges of which are also carved with floral patterns. A beautifully carved prabhamandala (aureole ) is there at the back of the head.

The figure is depicted with four hands, the main pair now lost below the elbows. The left hand holding the  chakra (discus) and the right hand holding the mace (gada). The two attendant figures on the left and the right are   chakrapurusha and gadanari. The gadanari holds a mace and a mirror. The vanamala (the long garlend) and the crown of Vishnu, are some of the distinctive features.

(Text source: Government Museum, Chandigarh) 

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'Goddess Parvati, circa 11th century A.D.' : Photo by K.J.S.Chatrath

Goddess Parvati, circa 11th century A.D., belonging to Pala School, Bengal, India. It is on display in the Government Museum, Chandigarh.

Quite interestingly, this sculpture shows Goddess Parvati with a third eye, a characteristic generally found only in the statues of Lord Shiva. 

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"Old British cemetery 'discovered' in Varanasi, India"- by K.J.S.Chatrath'

Grave Matters has posted a new item, "Old British cemetery 'discovered' in
Varanasi, India"- by K.J.S.Chatrath'

On my visit to Varanasi, India last week I managed to 'discover' an old British
cemetery there with graves dating back to 1799.

The word 'discovery' is being used by me in the way the Europeans claimed to
have 'discovered' the Americas, India and many other areas from 15th century
onwards. These places were already there [...]

You may view the latest post at http://gravematters.in/?p=2233

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'Mahashivratri-2016' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

Statue of Uma-Maheshwar discovered in Aavra, Mandsaur in Madha Pradesh India. It is estimated to date back to 8th-9th century A.D. It is on display in the Government Museum, Indore, India.

Today is the pious Hindu day of  Maha Shivaratri (The Great Night of Shiva). It is the day when Lord Shiva was married to Goddess Parvati. It marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Parvati is the wife of the Hindu deity Shiva - the destroyer, recycler and regenerator of universe and all life. She is the daughter of the mountain king Himavan and mother Mena. Parvati is the mother of Hindu deities Ganesha and Karttikeya. Her elder sister is the goddess Ganges.

 

Perhaps a depiction of the marriage scene of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati. Source of the above photo: https://www.facebook.com/shaivasiddhanta/photos/a.455177831181529.106396.406177366081576/834051149960860/?type=3&theater  

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May I invite you to take a look at some of my connected photo articles on Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati?
  
'Statue of Goddess Parvati, circa 12th century A.D,' - by K.J.S.Chatrath ; http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.in/2016/01/statue-of-goddess-parvati-circa-12th.html

'Some unusual depictions of Lord Shiva in statues and paintings' by K.J.S.Chatrath; www.fiftyplustravels.com/?p=7090

'Veenadhar Shiva, circa 11th century A.D' by K.J.S.Chatrath ; http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.in/2016/01/veenadhar-shiva-circa-11th-century-ad.html

‘Broken sculpture (of Parvati) circa 12^th century A.D. at Government Museum, Chandigarh’ by K.J.S.Chatrath; http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.in/2015/12/broken-sculpture-of-parvati-circa-12th.html

(Text with inputs from the internet)  

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