'Goddess Chamunda' - by K J S Chatrath

I visited the Government Museum Bhubaneswar and the 64 Yogini temple at Hirapur near Bhubaneswar in 2017. In the Museum this fascinating carving of Chamunda caught my eye.

Chamunda or Chamundeshwari, is a fearsome form of Chandi, the Hindu Divine Mother and one of the seven Matrikas (mother goddesses). She is also one of the chief Yoginis, a group of sixty-four (Chausath) Tantric goddesses, who are attendants of the warrior goddess Durga. The name is a combination of Chanda and Munda, two monsters whom Chamunda killed.

This statue dating back to the 8th century AD was discovered in Dharamsala, Jajpur, Odisha. It is oon display in Government Museum Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

This statue of Chamunda dating back to 7th century AD also on display in the same museum in Bhubaneswar, was discovered in Banakuda in Odisha.

This Chamunda portrayed as one of the 64 Yoginis is in the 64 Yogini temple at Hirapur, 20 kms from Bhubaneswar. This dates back to 8th century AD.

Please click at the following links to access the photo articles on Chausath Yoginis: http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2018/09/64-yogini-temple-hirapur-odisha-by.html

’64 hairstyles of 64 (Chausath) Yoginis in Hirapur temple, Odisha, Part-I’ by K.J.S.Chatrath ; http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2017/06/64-hairstyles-of-64-chausath-yoginis-in.html

’64 hairstyles of 64 (Chausath) Yoginis in Hirapur temple, Odisha, Part-II’ by K.J.S.Chatrath; http://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2017/06/64-hairstyles-of-64-chausath-yoginis-in_5.html

'Murals in Sri Veerabhadra Swami Temple, Leepakshi (1553 AD) India- A curtain raiser' - by K J S Chatrath

Murals in Sri Veerabhadra Swami Temple, Leepakshi, (1553 AD) India. A photo article coming soon on my website www.fiftyplustravels.com and blogs www.fiftyplustravels.blogspot.in & www.indianheritagephotos.blogspot.in

'Mural depicting Lord Krishna welcoming Sudama in Dwarka' - K J S Chatrath

About 200 year old mural in a place of worship somewhere in Uttrakhand, India, depicting Sudama being welcomed by Lord Krishna in Dwarka...A write up with more photos coming soon on my blog www.fiftyplustravels.blogspot.in

'Some Sadhus (Holy men) of India' - by K J S Chatrath

Come, visit my India!

'I love my India!'- by K J S Chatrath

I love my India!...

Somewhere in South India, January 2019.

'India seen through the eyes of an 18th century French traveller- a curtain raiser' - by K J S Chatrath

My photo article on 'India seen through the eyes of an 18th century French traveller' coming soon on my website (www.fiftyplustravels.com and blog (www.fiftyplustravels.blogspot.in).

The sketch of Matsya Avtar above is by that Frenchman. Matsya (Fish) Avatar is the first among the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. As per the story in Bhagabata Purana, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Matsya to ensure the continuity of life on the earth following the great floods and also to rescue the Vedas and sacred texts from the demon Hayagriva.

Khajuraho, India, Circa 950-1030 A.D. by K J S Chatrath

Khajuraho, India. Built circa 950-1030 AD.

Do notice the ornaments worn by the couple- the way lady is holding her dress with her left hand, her hair style and the portrayal of the thumb and fingers of man's left hand cupping the left breast of the lady....

Come visit my India!

May I invite you to visit my earlier posts on Khajuraho:

'There is much more to Khajuraho temples besides eroticism, Part-I' - by K J S Chatrath ; https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2019/02/there-is-much-more-to-khajuraho-temples.html

'Kandariya Mahadev Temple (11th-12th AD), Khajuraho, India' - by K J S Chatrath ; https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2019/02/kandariya-mahadev-temple-11th-12th-ad.html

'Vamana Temple, Khajuraho, India- a curtain raiser' - by K J S Chatrath ; https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2019/03/vamana-temple-khajuraho-india-curtain.html

'Parshwanath Temple (950-970 AD) Khajuraho, India - a curtain raiser' - by K J S Chatrath ; https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2019/03/parshwanath-temple-950-970-ad-khajuraho.html

'Khajuraho Dance Festival- 2019, Part-1' - by K J S Chatrath ; https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2019/03/khajuraho-dance-festival-2019-part-1-by.html

'Khajuraho Dance Festival- 2019, Part-II- a curtain raiser' - by K J S Chatrath ;https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2019/03/khajuraho-dance-festival-2019-part-ii.html

'Khajuraho from different angles' - by K J S Chatrath ; https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2019/03/khajuraho-from-different-angle-by-k-j-s.html

Khajuraho, India, Circa 950-1030 A.D. by K J S Chatrath ; https://indianheritagephotos.blogspot.com/2019/05/khajuraho-india-circa-950-1030-ad-by-k.html