Thursday 4 June 2009

But aesthetically more interesting is the Visnu from Benisagar


But aesthetically more interesting is the Visnu from Benisagar, in the Singbhum district of Bihar, and now in the Patna Museum. This image, about only 40 cm high, retains many features of the Gupta classicism. But its soft and sensitive plastic modelling, fully rounded and defined form, balanced composition complete with two subsidiary figures of Gadadevi and Chakrapurusa and the halo makes it further advanced from the early Gupta images found in Bengal region. Among the Visnus an interesting variation is that of Chaitanpur in the district of Bardhaman in West Bengal.
The god with his usual iconographic features and pose is shown with a desiccated sinewy physical form. So far a unique type of Visnu, the image is believed to be a representation of the god's abhicharika or malevolent aspect, is the large image, now in Indian Museum, and tentatively assigned to the 7th century AD. Of the Brahmanical deities, two Surya/ Visnu images from Bengal, one discovered at Kasipur in the 24 Parganas, and the other from Deora in Bogra district (fig 7) appear to be find immaculate examples of the 7th century post-Gupta style. Both the images are carved and complete with their charioteer, other attending men and women and the chariot drawn by seven galloping horses. (07 of 16)

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