CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Small shrine (manejangan saluwang): Deer head. This may refer to a story of the legendary priest Mpu Kuturan who was led by a deer to the place where he was to build the first temple.

Subject: Deer. A coir deer used for decoration and symbolizes harmony and longevity. For coir craft, coir, the fiber removed from the nuts of coconut palms is converted into toys and ornamental objects by tying and folding the fibers together in a zig-zag manner. The figures are made in parts and then joined together. Facial structures are added with colored wool, stitched on the figure. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Nabakothari Khandua Silk Saree (Blue). The 'nabatkothari' saree has nine square segments placed in a linear way on the body that contain nine different designs like, lotus, elephant, temple, peacock, pot, lion, conch, butterfly and deer in one line and another nine in the other line. This is a single ikat saree. This object was procured from Nuapatna No 2 Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd.

Subject: Deer. A coir deer used for decoration and symbolizes harmony and longevity. For coir craft, coir, the fiber removed from the nuts of coconut palms is converted into toys and ornamental objects by tying and folding the fibers together in a zig-zag manner. The figures are made in parts and then joined together. Facial structures are added with colored wool, stitched on the figure. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Pen Stand. A decorative wooden pen stand. View of a running deer painted on the pen stand. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Rama kills the golden deer - Left portion, Rama with his bow; The magic deer was Maricha, a disguised rakshasa, who led Rama away from Sita.

Subject: Rama kills the golden deer - The magic deer was Maricha, a disguised rakshasa, who led Rama away from Sita.

Subject: Deer. A coir deer used for decoration and symbolizes harmony and longevity. For coir craft, coir, the fiber removed from the nuts of coconut palms is converted into toys and ornamental objects by tying and folding the fibers together in a zig-zag manner. The figures are made in parts and then joined together. Facial structures are added with colored wool, stitched on the figure. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Jagati, south face, detail: deer couple

Subject: Nabakothari Khandua Saree (Chocolate). The 'nabatkothari' saree has nine square segments placed in a linear way on the body that contain nine different designs like, lotus, elephant, temple, peacock, pot, lion, conch, butterfly and deer in one line and another nine in the other line. This is a single ikat saree.This object was procured from Nuapatna No 2 Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd.

Subject: Nabakothari Khandua Saree (Green). The 'nabatkothari' saree has nine square segments placed in a linear way on the body that contain nine different designs like, lotus, elephant, temple, peacock, pot, lion, conch, butterfly and deer in one line and another nine in the other line. This is a single ikat saree. This object was procured from Nuapatna No 2 Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd.

Subject: Nabakothari khandua Saree. The 'nabatkothari' saree has nine square segments placed in a linear way across the body that contain nine different designs like, lotus, elephant, temple, peacock, pot, lion, conch, butterfly and deer in one line and another nine in the other line. This is a single ikat saree with a red and green color scheme. This object was procured from Boyanika (Odisha State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd).

Subject: Hair Kanta. This is a brass hairpin with a decorative figure of a deer on the head, used to secure hairstyles. This object was procured from State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Somaskanda: Somaskanda is the term used to describe a composition that depicts Shiva and his consort Parvati seated on a throne with their infant son Skanda between them. The four-armed Shiva holds a battle-ax and a deer in his upper hands. His lower right hand is raised in abhayamudra (the gesture of fearlessness). Parvati sits turned towards Shiva. Her left hand bestows grace using the varada-mudra. This subject was especially popular in shrines of the Pallava period (300-850 CE), and continued to be so in the Chola period (850-1267 CE). Both figures have a projecting disc (siras cakra) at the back of their heads. This was used for hanging garlands during pujas (worship) and processions. Four rings at the lower corners of the pedestal allowed the sculpture to be secured to a platform in order to be carried in processions. The Saiva Siddhanta system as developed in the Tamil land lays great emphasis on the concept of Ammai and Appan (i.e., Mother and Father) for Shiva and Parvati. A large number of Somaskanda images exist, in apart because a range of Agamic texts specify that if a temple does not possess the exact image required for a specific ritual procession, Somaskanda bronze can be used as a substitute.

Subject: Red animal sarcophagus on bamboo platform. Coffins for higher castes are made in the shape of a bull for men or cow for women; in lower castes, they take the form of a deer or winged lion.

Subject: Somaskanda, back view: Somaskanda is the term used to describe a composition that depicts Shiva and his consort Parvati seated on a throne with their infant son Skanda between them. The four-armed Shiva holds a battle-ax and a deer in his upper hands. His lower right hand is raised in abhayamudra (the gesture that allays fear). Parvati sits turned towards Shiva. Her left hand bestows grace using the varada-mudra. This subject was especially popular in shrines of the Pallava period (300-850 CE), and continued to be so in the Chola period (850-1267 CE). Both figures have a projecting disc (siras cakra) at the back of their heads. This was used for hanging garlands during pujas (worship) and processions. Four rings at the lower corners of the pedestal allowed the sculpture to be secured to a platform in order to be carried in processions. The Saiva Siddhanta system as developed in the Tamil land lays great emphasis on the concept of Ammai and Appan (i.e., Mother and Father) for Shiva and Parvati. Large number of Somaskanda images exist, in apart because a range of Agamic texts specify that if a temple does not possess the exact image required for a specific ritual procession, Somaskanda bronze can be used as a substitute.

Subject: Vedika, northeast quadrant, outer face, pillar, detail, central medallion, lion picking up a deer cub

Subject: Bichitrapuri Sakta Cotton Saree. The Bichitrapuri saree is woven in red, black and white by weavers of Bargarh, Odisha. It has a traditional anchal with motifs of flower, swan, deer, creepers, conch , deer and elephant.

Subject: Shiva Tripurantaka, detail. Tripurantaka means Destroyer of Three Cities. In this posture Shiva stands on a lotus pedestal. The left foot is gracefully bent. Two front hands are poised to hold the bow and arrow, while one rear hand holds a battle axe and the fingers of the other support his deer companion. The Tripurantaka form of Shiva embodies the concept of the warrior par excellence. Rajaraja Chola (985-1016 CE) personally related to the victorious form of the Tripuravijaya who provided the emperor with a divine archetype whose blessings would ensure him victory. Kulottunga III, in an allusion to Shiva Tripurantaka assumed the title Tribhuvanaviradeva to mark his conquests. During the annual festival, called the brahmotsava, Tripurantaka images are placed on a decorated temple car and pulled along around the four main streets encircling the village. This procession serves to reassure worshippers of the God’s protection. 

Subject: Nabaratna khadi silk Saree. This saree has nine auspicious motifs in its body. The are rows of nine different motifs - lotus, elephant, temple, peacock, pot, lion, conch, butterfly and deer in one line. This is a single ikat saree.

Subject: Pillar capital: Four deer with one head

Subject: Somaskanda: Somaskanda is the term used to describe a composition that depicts Shiva and his consort Parvati seated on a throne with their infant son Skanda between them. The four-armed Shiva holds a battle-ax and a deer in his upper hands. His lower right hand is raised in abhayamudra (the gesture of fearlessness). Parvati sits turned towards Shiva. Her left hand bestows grace using the varada-mudra. This subject was especially popular in shrines of the Pallava period (300-850 CE), and continued to be so in the Chola period (850-1267 CE). Both figures have a projecting disc (siras cakra) at the back of their heads. This was used for hanging garlands during pujas (worship) and processions. Four rings at the lower corners of the pedestal allowed the sculpture to be secured to a platform in order to be carried in processions. The Saiva Siddhanta system as developed in the Tamil land lays great emphasis on the concept of Ammai and Appan (i.e., Mother and Father) for Shiva and Parvati. A large number of Somaskanda images exist, in apart because a range of Agamic texts specify that if a temple does not possess the exact image required for a specific ritual procession, Somaskanda bronze can be used as a substitute. This is the back view of the sculpted image.

Subject: Somaskanda: Somaskanda is the term used to describe a composition that depicts Shiva and his consort Parvati seated on a throne with their infant son Skanda between them. The four-armed Shiva holds a battle-ax and a deer in his upper hands. His lower right hand is raised in abhayamudra (the gesture that allays fear). Parvati sits turned towards Shiva. Her left hand bestows grace using the varada-mudra. This subject was especially popular in shrines of the Pallava period (300-850 CE), and continued to be so in the Chola period (850-1267 CE). Both figures have a projecting disc (siras cakra) at the back of their heads. This was used for hanging garlands during pujas (worship) and processions. Four rings at the lower corners of the pedestal allowed the sculpture to be secured to a platform in order to be carried in processions. The Saiva Siddhanta system as developed in the Tamil land lays great emphasis on the concept of Ammai and Appan (i.e., Mother and Father) for Shiva and Parvati. Large number of Somaskanda images exist, in apart because a range of Agamic texts specify that if a temple does not possess the exact image required for a specific ritual procession, Somaskanda bronze can be used as a substitute.

Subject: Deer. A coir deer used for decoration and symbolizes harmony and longevity. For coir craft, coir, the fiber removed from the nuts of coconut palms is converted into toys and ornamental objects by tying and folding the fibers together in a zig-zag manner. The figures are made in parts and then joined together. Facial structures are added with colored wool, stitched on the figure. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.