Image title: Figure 88. A Chola woman

Ttwo more female figures in the Garbha Graha Prakaram. The second lady is in Ayata Sthana. Her right hand is in Lata and her left hand is also folded but Hasta is not clear. Again one has to note their slender perfect bodies, sharp features and huge buns on their head. They can be celestial nymphs or Chola women of high society.Another interesting feature is that they are not wearing many ornaments unlike many other sculptures at the Adi Kumbesvara temple where the women were bedecked richly with jewels. These could be women of high society or members of the royal family. The lack of jewels could mean that they did not belong to the Dasi family or courtesan. The sculpting represents superiority of the profile presentation. “These Chola ladies are picturesque and realistic human figures, full of feminine grace and the joy of life. This intensely human quality maybe said to distinguish every one of the statues in the niches of this shrine. This art so unconventional is thus, refreshingly original in conception and spirit. This humanism is Chola’s first contribution to South Indian Art.” All these sculptures are very well preserved and life size..

Gallery information:

Kumbakonam is considered as one of the holiest places in Tamil Nadu and is known for its temples and Mathas (monasteries which were centres of Brahmanical learning). These photographs depict the connection between the sculptures in the temples and Natya Shastra and related texts dealing with iconography.