Crowns for Men (b): Karanda-makuta

[Full title: Head-dress of Men during the Pallava period: Crowns (b): Karanda-makuta]

Similar to kirita-makuta, the karanda-makuta also has different forms of ornamentation on it. A typical example of jeweled karanda-makuta, though of late Pallava period, can be seen adorning the head of a dvarapalaka from Kaveripakkam (Kanchipuram district)^[1] (fig. 130), Surya from Satyamangalam (Villupuram district)^[2] and Manmatha from Sundaravaradaperumal temple at Uttiramerur (Kanchipuram district) (fig. 131 and 462) to name a few. It comprises of all the ornamental flourishes like beads of circular and square shapes, beaded tassels, finials, circular medallion inset with kirtimukha and floral designs as well as makara motifs.

Some of the dancing figures of men in the panels from Thantontrisvara temple at Kanchipuram wear a karanda-makuta fronted by a medallion with floral decorations on it. Further ornamental tassels in the form of ribbons can also be seen hanging from the sides of the makuta. The southern dvarapalaka of the central shrine in the Kal-mandapam cave temple at Kuranganilmuttam as well as the pair of dvarapalakas flanking the shrine entrance in the cave temple at Mahendravadi wear karanda-makuta type of head-dress having such medallions in their middle. However they are blank and seem to be unfinished. On some of the makuta worn by the dvarapalakas, like at Kuranganilmuttam (fig. 132 and 465), a pointed apex can be seen with a horn like protrusion emerging by the side. On this basis K. R. Srinivasan^[3] identifies such dvarapalakas as an image of Nandi, the mount and attendant of Siva. However, alternatively they can also be an anthropomorphic representation of the trident, the weapon of Siva. So, they may be identified as an ayudha-purusha as well.

In the Govardhanadhari panel at Mamallapuram, interestingly both Balarama and Krishna wear karanda-makuta with a pear shaped ornamental medallion in the middle (fig. 133). The medallion has a beaded border with a central circular gem. Three of the four kneeling figures at the foot of Trivikrama in the panel at Varaha-mandapa also wear karanda-makuta with three circular medallions on it–one in the middle and the other two on the sides. However, these medallions are plain and could be incomplete in finish. However from similar karanda-makuta adorning the heads of the two Ganas in the Mahishasuramardini cave temple it can be assumed that they may also have such floral decorations formed of beads, precious stones or metal. Similar type, but with varied design for the medallion can be seen adorning the head of a Gana from Kaveripakkam^[4] (fig. 134 and 467).

The head-dress of the ayudha-purusha Sudarsana (fig. 135 and 466) seen kneeling below the reclining image of Vishnu in the Seshasayi-Vishnu panel at Mamallapuram is very interesting. Here he seems to wear a karanda-makuta type, but with the top most tier modeled in the form of a chakra in profile. Additionally a pair of looped tassels can be seen flying from the makuta. At the front and the side, the makuta is fixed with pear shaped medallion consisting of beaded designs as border and a circular gem in the middle. Alternatively karanda-makuta of this type can also be identified as a turban^[5].

Normally the base portion of karanda-makuta near the fore-head would be visible flat resembling a fore-head band. However, the devotee (fig. 136) kneeling to the right side of Durga in the Draupadi-ratha is seen with the characteristic thick round diadem (siro-mala) around the base of his short conical karanda-makuta, with a medial transverse band across it. Similar diadem can also be seen adorning the karanda-makuta of Brahmasasta on the Arjuna-ratha and in the Trimurti cave temple at Mamallapuram, but without the pinching in the middle of the siro-mala. Instead in the case of the Brahmasasta in the Trimurti cave temple, he is shown wearing a tiara with a pear shaped medallion over the siro-mala. Such a pinch in the centre of the siro-mala can be seen especially in the sculptures of Rajasimha’s time and those of his immediate successors^[6]. Similar type of makuta can also be seen adorning child Skanda and in many of the sculptures representing Skanda as Brahmasasta. In the former case, it is always treated as having a short conical top without any clear ring like demarcations indicating a karanda type, with a round fillet around its base.

Another variant in the decoration of the karanda-makuta can be seen in an image of a Gana from Kaveripakkam^[7] (fig. 137). Here the makuta consist of five tiers and at the middle of each tier a floral ornament is seen, in addition to the circular medallions flanking the band at the lowermost tier.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Now in Govt. Museum, Chennai, Acc. No. 71-7/37.

[2]:

Now in Govt. Museum, Chennai, Acc. No. 2558.

[3]:

Srinivasan, op.cit, p. 60.

[4]:

Now kept in Govt. Museum, Chennai, Acc. No. 112-34/38.

[5]:

K. R. Srinivasan identifies similar head-dress of the dvarapalakas flanking the facade of Satrumallesvaralaya at Dalavanur as a turban, (op.cit, p. 75).

[6]:

K. R. Srinivasan, The Dharmaraja ratha and Its Sculptures, New Delhi, 1975, p. 64.

[7]:

Now kept in Govt. Museum, Chennai, Acc. No. 71-7/37.