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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum, Ahmedabad
Lalit Kumar
Thc Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum of art and archaology, Ahmedabad was established in its new building in 1983. Situated in the sylvan environment and amidst several cducational and research institutions, in western part of the city, the museum provides a rare opportunity of aesthetic experience to the students, scholars and people of the city.
The museum has two major galleries. The sculpture gallery of the museum is named after the major donor of the collection smt. Madhuri D. Desai, of Bombay. She was the daughter-in-law of the famous jurist Bhulabhai Desai. It is a gallery with a difference. The collection is rich and varied. The oldest sculpture in the gallery dates back to Sunga period (c: 2nd century). The gallery has images of all the major and minor art styles of the last two millennia. Gandhar and Mathura, the two great centres of art of the Kushan period arc represented by some of the finest examples of the school. The Buddha head cast in stucco on the model of Greek god Apollo is perhaps the largest hcad (ht. 63 cm), which is dated to 4th century. The standing image of the god Vishņu from Mathura of c. 3rd century is one of the best-preserved images of this period. An architectural fragment with the river goddess Ganga relieved on it is also one of the carliest images of c. 400, a time when her representation was made for the first time.
The oldest cult image of Lord Rāma attributed to the Devagarh group of temples, a well-known Vaisnava site near Jhansi, in Uttar Pradesh is housed in this gallery. The image is dated to c. 500 when the cult of Rāma might have bcen difficult to comperhend. According to our current understanding the cult of Rāma began only after the 12th century. Incidentally, this gem of sculpture remained unidentified for 14 years. This life size image of Lord Rāma welcomes the visitors from the left side of the gallery as one enters the museum. Next to it stands Vishnu in marable, a representation of the Lord popularly known as Vaikunth Vishnu but actually, represents the iconic form of his cosmic manifestation, which was revealed by Krishna to Arjuna at the time of the great battle of Kuruksetra. The vyākhyāna mudra as shown by his two hands also vouch for his identification, otherwise this mudrā is hard to explain in this form of th Kārttikeya, the warlord of the gods, is yet another rare icon from central India in the present collection. The Päla rulers of eastern India were great patrons of Indian art. They were responsible for the large production of Buddhist, Saiva and Vaisnava images. Interestingly, the Pala Rulers were Saiva and the women of the royal house were followers of the Buddhism. Religious tolerance was very much observed in this period.
* In-charge, L.D.Museum, Ahmedabad.
ulas. Elulais - Bilbel.- 1a. Bal., 2001. 2€
For Private and Personal Use Only
