Household Articles (a): Vessel

As most of the sculptures depicted in this period are religious in nature, household items are very less depicted. In spite of this lacuna some objects can still be noticed. They can be described as infra.

Vessel of various shapes meant for different purpose can be seen in the sculptural art of this period. Broadly they can be divided into storage pots and jars, miniature pots, vases in the form of a bottle-gourd, vessels or jars for keeping drinking water, bowls, dishes, dish-on-stands and tray.

(i) Storage pot and jar

In the Govardhanadhari panel at Mamallapuram three kinds of storage pots can be seen as below:

1. Wide-mouthed, neck-less globular pot with thick out turned rim.
2. Similar to type (a), but with an ovoid bulged-out body.
3. Similar to type (b), but with a lid having a circular knob.

Of these, type (a) (fig. 345) can be seen in the hands of a man milking the cow and also seen carried by the two gopikas. Type (b) (fig. 346) can be noticed in the middle of three pots placed one above the other on the head of a gopika and type three (fig. 347) can be found placed on the top of a column of three pots held in the hand of another gopika. It is interesting to note here that in the last mentioned one, all the three pots are placed in position by means of a rope-sling. Further in both the cases, where the pots are arranged one above the other, its size decreases correspondingly from bottom to top. Probably these women are carrying in their pots some food, with which they can stay comfortably with their family under the shelter of Govardhana hill provided by Krishna. Similar pots are also found being carried by the men riding the elephants in the historical panels (for example a panel on the northern cloister wall) at the Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram. In accordance with the size of the panels they are depicted smaller in dimension.

In the Brahmasasta shrine of the Trimurti cave temple, a pot similar to type (c), but elliptical in shape (fig. 348) can be seen held by a Gana hovering to the proper right of Brahmasasta. However, the lid in this case appears to be conical in shape without a knob. Probably it was a wide mouthed shallow bowl used for covering the pot. From a study of the context, it can be assumed, that probably he was holding in the pot the sacred food (prasadam) to be offered to the deity. This interpretation can be justified by the presence of another Gana hovering to the proper left of Brahmasasta with a bell in his hand.

In the Gajalakshmi panel, depicted on the rear wall of Varaha-mandapa at Mamallapuram, another type of pot with a globular body, constricted neck, narrow-mouth and thick-rims can be seen held in the hands of the pair of celestial women and in the trunks of the elephants. An almost similar type (fig. 349), but with thin rim can be seen being carried by a hunter in the Larger Bhagiratha penane panel at Mamallapuram.

An almost similar type (fig. 350), but with the pots having thick disc shaped base can be seen placed in front of an image of Durga, now preserved in the Government Museum at Chennai.

In the Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram, two types of unique pottery can be seen. The first type (fig. 351) depicted in a panel (upper row) on the eastern cloister wall is globular in shape, with a narrow ridged neck and moderate mouth having out turned rim. The second type (fig. 352) seen on another panel on the same wall is also similar in shape but with a little carination at its shoulder and a comparitvey wider neck and mouth portion. In this case also, the neck is treated with ridge moulding and the interesting part is the rim, which is portrayed in full and has a three-dimensional effect. C. Minakshi interprests these vessels placed at the foot of the king as containing presents brought by the feudatories.

A vessel with elongated body (fig. 353) can be seen carried by a pair of men by suspending it with the help of a pole in the Smaller Bhagiratha penance panel at Mamallapuram.

(ii) Miniature pot

These pots are comparatively smaller in size and are thus, more portable in nature. An excellent depiction (fig. 354) of the same can be seen in the Trivikrama panel depicted on one of the outer walls of the angalaya in the Kailasanatha temple complex at Kanchipuram. The pot can be seen held in the hands of king Bali, who is shown in the act of pouring the water from it before granting the land as demanded by Vamana. It is shown as a small globular pot having narrow neck and a mouth of medium width having thick rim. Probably another similar depiction of the pot can be seen held by the Brahmanas in the historical panels depicting the coronation scene in the Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram. But in most cases due to either worn-out state or plastering their exact form is difficult to say. A comparatively well preserved type can be seen in a panel on the northern wall. Even at present such small sized metal vessels can be seen used for various purposes like in a religious ritual or for drinking water, etc.

(iii) Vase in the form of a bottle-gourd

These are special utility containers meant to carry water during journey and was provided with a lid. In the sculptural art of this period they are especially seen in the hands of the ascetics or Brahmanas. In the Trimurti cave temple at Mamallapuram, the dvarapalaka depicted in the form of an ascetic on the left flank of the Brahmasasta shrine is shown holding a bottle-gourd shaped vessel by its neck (fig. 355). As the name itself indicates, a vessel of this kind was moulded having a globular body with elongated neck. A more realistic and fairly well preserved type can be seen held by the pair of Brahmanas carved on the side wall of the deep-niche enshrining a life size panel of Bhikshatana-murti in the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram. The vase held by the Brahmana carved nearer to the niche opening also has a lid with a conical knob (fig. 356). A similar variety can be seen placed above the proper left hand of Siva-Yogesvara in the same temple. But in this case, additionally a small circular pedestal can be seen fixed to its base (fig. 357). In several cases, vessels of this type can also be noticed depicted above the shoulders of pair of celestial men flanking the main niche.

(iv) Vessel or jar for keeping drinking water

This can be regarded as a sub-type of the storage pots or jars category, as they are almost similar in shape. In the sculptural art of this period they are usually seen placed near or under the throne, with Somaskanda or royal couples seated on it. These vessels are also globular in shape but have in addition a pedestalled base (fig. 358). It is provided with a short narrow neck and a little wider mouth. The opening of the pot is provided with a lid having flaring mouth and conical body, resembling a drinking cup (lota or tumbler). Even today, till few decades back, before the plastic bottles became popular such jars (called as kuja in Tamil, however made of metal) with a screwable lid or similar tumblers as a temporary lid were in usage. They can be seen in usage even now in some villages and in some traditional homes. Probably these vessels are used for keeping drinking water. Best examples of this type can be seen in the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram.

A similar type, but probably with a short spout (fig. 359) can be seen in the Somaskanda panel adorning the rear wall of the Shore temple at Mamallapuram.

(v) Bowl

In the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram there are cases, where instead of a vessel, a pedestalled bowl (fig. 360) can be seen. The exact purpose of such bowls cannot be said with certainty. These bowls are modeled with slanting vertical sides tapering towards the bottom and are provided with a pedestalled base. The seemingly curved rim portion may suggest that they are used for drinking purpose. Similar bowls (fig. 361) can also be seen placed in front of the kings in the historical panels of the Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram. However, the bowl depicted on the northern wall (upper row) seems to have curved appearance.

(vi) Dish

A dish is a wide vessel meant for holding solid items and was used normally to keep offerings to the deities or to carry things over a short distance. In the portrayal of a war scene in a panel (lower row) on the northern cloister wall of the Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram, a man is seen carrying over his head a dish having ribbed designs on its exterior (fig. 362). Alternatively it can be identified as a basket.

(vii) Dish-on-stand

This is a unique type of utensil, the antiquity of which can be traced back to the Indus Valley civilization, the mature period of which flourished from circa 2600 B. C. to 1900 B.C. In Pallava period it is seen for the first time in the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram. In the sculptural depiction of this period, it is shown in the form of a flat tray like top portion with a stand attached to its bottom. Fine depiction of this variety of vessel (fig. 363) can be seen in the Somaskanda panel, carved above the niche enshrining a panel of Bhikshatanamurti. In several cases, a similar type can also be noticed placed in front of the Vyalas with or without a rider, carved on the flanks of the main niche. A best preserved type (fig. 364) can be noticed depicted to the side of the niche enshrining a panel of Siva Yogisvara. In all these cases, it can be observed that the vessel was used as a stand for placing some offerings.

(viii) Tray

In the smaller Bhagiratha penance panel at Mamallapuram, a Vidhyadhara is shown hovering with a tray like object held over his shoulders (fig. 365). But owing to the worn-out state and incomplete nature of the carving, its exact form is difficult to judge. Similarly some of the men riding on the elephants in the historical panels of the Vaikunthaperumal temple at Kanchipuram are also shown carrying some object, perhaps placed on a tray.