CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Vamana Besha of Lord Jagannatha. Solapith craft uses the pith or soft inner core of the Indian cork tree for making decorative items. The pith is cut in different sizes and shapes for the design and assembled by glue. The pith is incised or removed to create ornamental designs and patterns. In the month of Bhadra, Lord Jagannatha is dressed like Vamana incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Prasada Pot/ Abhada Handi. Abhada is sacred food cooked for Lord Jagannatha at Shri Jagannatha Temple, Puri. The food is served in such earthen pots that are used only once. Pots that are subjected to a longer heat period during making have a black tinge. The size of the pot varies according to its capacity to feed a specific number of average devotees on the basis of average consumption.

Subject: Subhadra. Subhadra is Jagannatha's sister. Jagannatha is considered a form of Vishnu. The icons are carved and decorated wooden stump with large round eyes and a symmetric face and have a conspicuous absence of hands or legs. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Swan. A decorative item of a swan painted over a shell. Seashell craft has been a prominent art form in Puri and Konark since seashells are easily available next to the coast line. There are many varieties of shells with a range of patterns, textures and shapes. The shells are used for making decorative and utilitarian items. The pieces also illustrate various themes from the life of Lord Jagannatha. Back view of the object.

Subject: Jatri Pati. This pattachitra image shows elongated main shrine of Jagannatha with the triad in bada-singhara vesa inside it. Also shown inside the shrine are the Garuda pillar with Shiva and Brahma on either side of it. Panels on top and bottom depict the dashavatara of Vishnu. On either side, episodes from Krishna-Leela, Ram-Leela and temple activities are shown. Pattachitra is a traditional, cloth-based scroll painting. Jatri Pati (tourist pattachitra) is a kind of souvenir or memento collected by pilgrims to gift to others. It is made in a wide range of sizes and of different degrees of detailing but it basically shows a vertical temple plan. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Prasada Pot/ Abhada Handi. Abhada is sacred food cooked for Lord Jagannatha at Shri Jagannatha Temple, Puri. The food is served in such earthen pots that are used only once. Pots that are subjected to a longer heat period during making have a black tinge. The size of the pot varies according to its capacity to feed a specific number of average devotees on the basis of average consumption.

Subject: Subhadra. Subhadra is Jagannatha's sister. Jagannatha is considered a form of Vishnu. The icons are carved and decorated wooden stump with large round eyes and a symmetric face and have a conspicuous absence of hands or legs.

Subject: Prasada Pot/ Abhada Handi. Abhada is a sacred food cooked for Lord Jagannatha at Shri Jagannatha Temple, Puri. The food is served in such earthen pots that are used only once. Pots that are subjected to a longer heat period during making have a black tinge. The size of the pot varies according to its capacity to feed a specific number of average devotees on the basis of average consumption.

Subject: Adjacent Jagannatha sabha, antarala, torana

Subject: Painted Cane Mana. This is a cane basket, with the Jagannatha triad painted over, called mana after the unit of measurement and is a traditional crop measuring pot used in rural Odisha. In cane craft, cane sticks of varying thickness are skilfully tied and bent together to make household accessories. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Subhadra. Jagannatha is considered a form of Vishnu. He is a part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The icons are carved and decorated wooden stump with large round eyes and a symmetric face and have a conspicuous absence of hands or legs.

Subject: Prasada Pot/ Abhada Handi. Abhada is sacred food cooked for Lord Jagannatha at Shri Jagannatha Temple, Puri. The food is served in such earthen pots that are used only once. Pots that are subjected to a longer heat period during making have a black tinge. The size of the pot varies according to its capacity to feed a specific number of average devotees on the basis of average consumption.

Subject: Jagannatha, Balabhadra Subhadra. Betel nut is the dry areca nut palm known as gua in Odia. The seed is carved and whittled by wood carvers of Odisha to make miniatures of deities of Jagannatha temple, Hindu gods and other religious motifs. This is an image of the Jagannatha triad comprising of Lord Jagannatha with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. Back view of the object. This object has been procured from State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Radha Damodara Besha of Lord Jagannatha. Solapith craft uses the pith or soft inner core of the Indian cork tree for making decorative items. The pith is cut in different sizes and shapes for the design and assembled by glue. The pith is incised or removed to create ornamental designs and patterns. Radha is the female counterpart of Krishna. Damodara is one of the names of Krishna. This Bhesa, therefore, highlights the great religious integration that took place in the Jagannatha temple with regard to the episodes of Radha and Krishna. This Bhesa takes place in the months of Asvina and Kartika. This object has been procured by Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Chariot of Subhadra (Darpadalana). The three chariots of Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannatha are newly constructed every year for the ratha yatra. These chariots are like miniature shrines in wood. The chariot of Subhadra is known as Darpadalana translating to trampler of pride and is decked with a covering of red and black cloth. The chariot has four red horses. Side view of the chariot. This object has been procured from Utkalika, Odisha State Co-operative Handicraft Corporation Ltd.

Subject: Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra. Lac comes from an insect’s resinous secretion. Terracotta and wooden items are coated with lacquer to produce utility or decorative items. These are figures of the Jagannatha triad. View of the back of the object.

Subject: Prasada Pot/ Abhada Handi. Abhada is sacred food cooked for Lord Jagannatha at Shri Jagannatha Temple, Puri. The food is served in such earthen pots that are used only once. Pots that are subjected to a longer heat period during making have a black tinge. The size of the pot varies according to its capacity to feed a specific number of average devotees on the basis of average consumption.

Subject: Balarama. Balarama is a god and the elder brother of Krishna. He is particularly significant in the Jagannatha tradition, as one of the triad deities. Balarama is depicted as light skinned, in contrast to his brother, Krishna, who is dark skinned. His weapons are the plough and the mace. Sometimes Balarama is considered one of the ten incarnations of the Lord Vishnu. Other legends identify him as the human incarnation of the serpent Shesha. He is the patron deity of farmers. This object has been procured from State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House Museum, Handicrafts Complex.

Subject: Tree. Betel nut is the dry areca nut palm known as gua in Odia. The seed is carved and whittled by wood carvers of Odisha to make miniatures of deities of Jagannatha temple, Hindu gods and other religious motifs. This is an image of a tree symbolizing growth. This object has been procured from State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Lord Jagannatha. This is an image of Lord Jagannatha made from many different varieties of seashells. Seashell craft has been a prominent art form in Puri and Konark since seashells are easily available next to the coast line. There are many varieties of shells with a range of patterns, textures and shapes. The shells are used for making decorative and utilitarian items. The pieces also illustrate various themes from the life of Lord Jagannatha. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Painted Pot. This is a papier-mâché pot on which the dashavatara, or the ten primary incarnations (avatars) of Vishnu have been painted - Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Balarama, Jagannatha and Kalki. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. This craft was probably introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish.

Subject: Jagannatha. Jagannatha is considered a form of Vishnu. He is a part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. The icons are carved and decorated wooden stump with large round eyes and a symmetric face and have a conspicuous absence of hands or legs.

Subject: Gotipua Dance. The Gotipua traditional dance is considered to be the forerunner of the famous classical Odissi dance form. In Oriya, ‘goti’ means single and ‘pua’ means boy. For many centuries young boys dressed as girls perform the Gotipua dance form to praise Lord Jagannath.

Subject: Boat Ashtray. A decorative ashtray which is shaped and painted to look like a boat. Seashell craft has been a prominent art form in Puri and Konark since seashells are easily available next to the coast line. There are many varieties of shells with a range of patterns, textures and shapes. The shells are used for making decorative and utilitarian items. The pieces also illustrate various themes from the life of Lord Jagannatha. Back view of the object. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.