Stone Images (3): Vaisnava Images

A large number of lithic Vaisnava images have been found from the archaeological sites of Sirpur during the archaeological excavation carried on by Dr. M.G. Dixit in 1953-1956.

The red-sand-stone image of Vaikuntha Narayana now kept in the sanctum of the Laksmana temple, is seated in Sukhasana on the coil of a snake whose five hoods serve as canopy on his head. Some of the scholars identify him with Laksmana or Sesa, the brother of Rama. He is decorated with crown, ear rings (Kundala), sacred thread of gems, bracelet etc. It is an elegant and charming piece of Vaisnava art.

The door-jamb of the Laksmana temple is very significant from the standpoint of sculptural representation. It contains the figures of the incarnations (avataras) of Lord Visnu and the plays of Krsna i.e., (Krsna-Lila). These images are considered to be superior than those of the times of the Guptas.

The campus of Gandhesvara temple, Sirpur is a veritable archaeological museum in so far as it contains the images of Buddhism, Saivism, Saktaism, and some Vaisnavite images. In the Mahamandapa, the black granite sculpture of Varahavatara is a very developed piece of sculpture although it is in a broken condition. There is a black granite image of standing Caturbhuja (four-armed) Visnu. From among the four arms, the right hand is missing, Visnu is holding a sankha (conch-shell) in his left rear arm while the other two arms are open. He wears a Yajnopavita (sacred thread) extending from the left shoulder to the right side of waist. Both the ears are adorned with kundala (ear rings) and the arms are with armlets. The neck is decorated with a mala (garland) and the forehead with the mark of sandal-paste. The most significant thing about this image is that the hair-do keep resemblance with that of image of the Siva.

The Mahamandapa of the temple also contains the beautiful image of a two-armed Garudasina Visnu. Garuda (mythologicial bird-vehicle of Visnu on its back. It is represented with human head, hands and legs. The ornamentation of Visnu as well as Garuda are made with Kirita, Mukuta, Kundala, Kantha, armlets, bracelets and ratnopavita. Garuda is being holding both the legs of Lord Visnu with his two hands. Another piece of the variety now preserved in London Museum is a extraordinarily beautiful image.

Besides, some beautiful images of Caturbhuja (four-armed) Visnu and his associates are being fixed in the outer wall of the temple. A few such images have been discovered in Surang Tila complex during exacavation in 2007-8.

The standing image of Visnu, found in the Trinity temple of Surang Tila, carved on a shale is ‘a masterpiece of art’. The well-proportioned figure with a discus in right rear hand and a conch-shell in left rear hand while the two other hands are broken from elbow, a beaded necklace, ear-wears (kundala), sacred thread, a crown, armlets and bracelets, mark of Srivatsa’s foot on chest is a wonderful artistic creation though the face has become worn out.

Among other Visnavite deities, mention may be made of standing image of a two-handed Laksmi with her associates in Laksmana temple. The ornamentation of this image is the same of the Visnu described above.