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JULY, 1983
5. A miniature shrine, Bhangra
A four-sided monolithic chlorite-schist, cylindrical in shape, is tapering gradually towards the top. It has a structural simile to the caumukhi (quadruple). The structure looks like an Orissan miniature temple having three pagas at each corner of the face and a flight of ten terraces at its top. The structure measures 42.0 cms. x 14.0 cms. One face of it shows Rsabhanatha, flanked by fly-fan wavers, one on each side. The structure has no other figure or any recognising symbols to be mentioned here.
6. Devi image at Harup village
Under a Mahua (Bassia latifolia) tree at the north-east corner of a large tank (locally known as the Harup bārdh) in the southern side of Harup village a beautifully carved and well preserved Devi image (fig. 4) is lying. Devi is four armed and ridingon a excellently modelled elephant in a moving posture. Arranged clockwise from the lower right hand Devi holds vajra-danda (thunder-bolt), sword, shield and goad. A man stands at the backside of the elephant griping a long stick suggesting an umbrella over her head. The pacing legs of the elephant indicate the speed of its motion rushing forward. The tusked elephant is bedecked with neck ornaments and bell. Devi is bejewelled with ear ornaments, pendant jewel (palamva), bangles and armlets. Her flanked hair seems to be enclosed in a close fitting beaded fillet. Her face is roundish and chin is oval. The figure of Devi and burly elephant are filled with a spirit of naturalism and freedom from heresy canonical and mythical injunctions. A chatra crowning the top of the stele and flying vidyādharas holding garlands are carved on each upper corner of the stele. Devi with her ponderous vāhana gaja, locally known as hātiyāsint has a two tiered lotus pedestal. Below the seat on pedestal, from right to left, men playing, in a dancing posture, with dundhubhis (musical instruments) like bhert (trumpet), tammața (drum) and jaya-ghața (cymbal). At the middle of the pedestal a deer (?) separates two dancers, each on either side. The Devi may be identified canonically as Ankusa of the Svetambaras. The image is a rare and unusual find in the Manbhum area where the Digambara sect dominated from late Gupta period down to 12 Century A.D. It has a considerable iconographic likeness to the Hindu goddess Indrani (?) [cf. Mitra : 1969 : pl. XXXV (B)]. The image is carved in a chloriteschist measuring 72.5 cms. X37.0 cms. The image has a seductive and elegant beauty of its own. The supple and pliable nature of the figures indicate the climax of sculptural art which had once flourished in Bengal. The voluptuous modelling of the figures assignes date to c. 9th Century A.D.
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