The visit to the Hero Stones and Loose sculptures at Badami
Museum on the North banks of
Agasthya Lake before Mallikarjuna Group of Temples at Badami was a part of the “Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Mahakuta and Aihole temples Heritage visit”
organized by வரலாறு விரும்பிகள் சங்கம் Varalaru
Virumbigal Sangam – VVS and எண்திசை
வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு, between 24th December to 28th
December 2022. I extend my sincere
thanks to the organizers Mrs. Radha, Mrs. Nithya Senthil Kumar, and Mr. Senthil
Kumar..
Initially, it was a place to store and preserve the explored
materials, sculptures, and inscriptions. Finally, it was transformed into a
full-fledged museum in 1982. The museum displays a rare collection of local
sculptures such as the Lajja Gauri images of fertility cults and prehistoric
inscriptions from the 6th to 16th century.
The Archaeological Museum was established in the year 1982 and houses 181 antiquities including sculptures, decorated architectural members, and inscriptions found in and around Badami. There are four galleries in the
museum and surrounded by an Open Air gallery. At the entrance, is an open-air
gallery presenting Jaina images, Nataraja, Rishabams, kirtimukha, erotic figures, and
some decorated architectural members.
There are four well-furnished galleries, which include
exhibits such as – attractive makara torana carved on both sides, Siva
represented as Kalari, Tripurantaka, Bhairava, Nataraja, and Vishnu as
Narasimha, Female divinities (Lajja Gauri, matrikās, Bhairavi and others).
The panels depicting Bhāgavata or Krishnalilā scenes are
outstanding specimens. The large, scaled model of the prehistoric cave at
Shidlaphadi, the trans-slides depicting the various aspects of prehistoric
life, and the newly organized section exhibiting human evolution, prehistoric
paintings, and stone implements, are important attractions of this museum. The
section on conservation, excavation, epigraphy, and the newly discovered quarry
site along with iron implements, etc. is highly educative and highlights the
multifaceted culture of Badami. A rare line drawing of the paintings in
cave-III is yet another important exhibit in the museum. Trilingual audio-video
film information is available in the museum.
Apart from this, the museum has a departmental publication
sales counter and reference library with a good number of collections of books
regarding art and architecture.
Lajja Gauri
Lajja Gauri (Nude Goddess) is a UNIQUE type of sculpture in
the realm of religious sculptural art of the Badami Chalukya period. Suçla
representations associated with the worship of Gotheless of fertility and
progeny having an ancient folk or indigenous origin have come to light from
many parts of India, especially from the Deccan date. They range from 3rd
- 2nd-century BCE. to 17th century CE and
include Terracotta figurines stone sculptures and wooden figures. Significantly
in the early medieval context many such relief sculptures, which were
under regular worship, have been discovered within the Chalukya Dominion in the
Malaprabha a valley, the cradle of early Chalukyas, this Goddess has appeared
in every major site between Aihole and Badami. The one displayed here originally installed in the premises of the Nageswara Temple in the
Naganathankolla (Nagaral), is one of the most artistically executed and best-preserved images of the goddess.
The Goddess is depicted in high relief, almost is life size on a rectangular
stele of Grayish sandstone lying flat on her back emphasizing the Birth
giving posture, in her two upraised hands she gently holds lotus Buds, The most
important feature is that in place of the head a fully blown lotus is shown.
The torso bears protrusion of fully developed breasts and the knees are drawn
apart towards the shoulders for an easy delivery as it were. The goddess wears
a lower garment (Ardhoryka) flowing across her thighs and in between the folded
legs. She is also decorated with a pair of heavy necklaces, armléls, a pair of
bangles, and anklets.
The tradition of worshiping this form of mother goddess by women aspiring for
offspring is still alive in the vicinity of Badami, Pattadakal, and Aihole.
Ref
ASI website: http://www.asidharwadcircle.in/badami-museum/
VISITING HOURS
The visiting hours of the museum are from 9.00 Hrs. To 17.00
Hrs and closed on Fridays.
HOW TO REACH
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Museum is about 2 km from Badami Bus Stand and autos are
available from the base of the caves also.
The Bhutanatha Temple is about 22 km from Pattadakal, 36 km from Aihole, and 453 km from Bengaluru.
The nearest Railway station is Badami, about 7 km
LOCATION OF THE
TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
No comments:
Post a Comment