Udara-bandha

Udara-bandha in the sculptural art of this period can be seen both as a simple cloth, folded and tied around the belly or as an ornamental metallic band inlaid with various semi-precious stones or embossed with such bead like patterns. According to Sivaramamurti^[1], its earliest known form as a simple band of folded cloth can be seen worn by a Yaksha figure (fig. 314) recovered from the village Parkham, near Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, datable to circa 2^nd century B. C.^[2]

In the sculptural art of this period, earliest example of an udara-bandha can be seen worn by the pair of dvarapalakas (fig. 315) flanking the facade of the Lakshitayatana cave temple at Mandagapattu. It appears to be a flat band with chequered designs. It can also be explained as a string formed of such square pieces, probably made of either semi-precious stones or terracotta or metal. A similar flat band, but of plain variety can be seen worn by the dvarapalakas flanking the facade and on the right flank of the shrine-cell in the Satrumallesvaralaya at Dalavanur. In contrast, the dvarapalaka on the left flank of the shrine-cell wears a beautifully modeled udarabandha, in the form of a flat band with series of rectangular gems set into it. A plain variety, but with a triangular projection in its upper middle portion can be seen adorning the hip of Vishnu in the Trimurti cave temple at Mamallapuram. Another plain variety, with a wavy outline for its lower border and having floral motifs at intervals can be seen worn by the image of Shanmukha from Kaverippakkam^[3] (fig. 305).

Similar to the one worn by the Yaksha figure at Parkham (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh), a band of cloth tied around the udara with a prominent knot in the middle can be seen adorning the sculptures of the Ganas in the Vishnu shrine of the Trimurti cave temple at Mamallapuram. A little variant in the form of a band with a knot in the middle can be seen worn by a Gana (fig. 316) in the Mahishasuramardini panel, in the cave temple at Mamallapuram.

In majority of cases the udarabandha appears plain in the form of a band with or without prominent rim or border, as can be seen in several sculptures adorning the various rock-cut cave temples at Mamallapuram and structural temples like Iravatanesvara, Piravatanesvara, Matangesvara and Kailasanatha at Kanchipuram. However there are a few ornamental varities also as described below.

An image of Vishnu, discovered from the village of Perangur (Villupuram district)^[4] (fig. 303) depicts a beautifully modelled udarabandha embossed with series of floral patterns. An almost similar ornamental band can be seen worn by an image of Surya from Kaverippakkam^[5]. Whereas, in the former the borders have beaded pattern and the intervening space between the successive floral patterns are filled with triangular motifs, in the latter the borders are plain and the intervening space are filled with semi-cirular motifs.

An udarabandha engraved with alternative square and circular patterns with a gem fixed in its middle can be seen on an image of Vishnu from Satyamangalam^[6] (fig. 291). Another similar type with semi-circular pattern, instead of the circular ones can be seen on another image of Vishnu, now displayed in the Government Museum at Chennai^[7].

An image of Surya from Satyamangalam^[8] (fig. 317) is shown wearing a udarabandha having square partitions with circular gems laid in them. A variant of this type having series of rhomboid shaped gems can be seen adorning the image of Vishnu fixed in a niche in the Jalanathesvara temple at Thakkolam.

A highly ornamental variety giving the appearance of a metal strip molded with floral and circular patterns and probably inlaid with gems can be seen adorning an image of a dvarapalaka from Kaverippakkam^[9].

An udarabandha set with series of cicular gems or beads can be seen on an image of Ganesa and a Gana in the Jalanadesvara temple at Thakkolam. A similar, but more pronounced variety can be seen on an image of Vishnu belonging to late Pallava period, now in display in the National Museum at New Delhi^[10] (fig. 299).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

C. Sivaramamurti, Amaravati Sculptures in the Chennai Government Museum, Chennai, 1942, Reprint, 1998, p. 115.

[2]:

V. S. Agrawala, Handbook of the Sculptures in the Curzon Museum of Arcaheology, Muttra, Allahabad, 1939, pp. 14–15, pl. III, fig. 4.

[3]:

Now kept in Govt. Museum, Chennai, Acc. No. 71-5/37.

[4]:

Now kept in the National Museum, New Delhi, Acc. no. 61.1157.

[5]:

Now kept in Govt. Museum, Chennai, Acc. No. 71-25/37.

[6]:

Ibid., Acc. No. 2608.

[7]:

Ibid., Acc. No. 2607.

[8]:

Ibid., Acc. No. 2558.

[9]:

Ibid., Acc. No. 71-7/37.

[10]:

Acc. no. 59.153/159.