Today we are going to see a fantastic miniature sculpture from Pullamangai ( Thanks chandra for the photo - more to come of yours shortly) - There is an equally majestic sculpture in tanjore museum - which is my favorite as well, which i fondly refer to as stone monalisa, but we will see that in a subsequent post. Am actually redoing this post, with further photos from Satheesh. We are in a real treat.

In order to truly appreciate this miniature, you got to understand the size of this creation and its location. We see the size at the end, just leaving it with ` miniature’ for now.

Well, need to use some software to brighten it up a bit and closeup for you.

Ok, recap the legend first.

Once upon a time there lived a demon called Gajamuhasura. As all demons are, he was cruel and ill treated all the good incl the devotees of shiva. Lord Shiva enraged at this decided to put an end to this and with his trident had a furious battle with the elephant bodied demon. The battle was so fierce and intense that Shiva was filled with rage and he caught the head of the elephant, crushed it with his foot and skinned him right there and wore it as his garment.

Now for the beauty - can you spot the characters - ofcourse Shiva - in his majestic, dynamic grace, almost dancing into the elephant hide - you can spot the elephant’s head way down to the left of the sculpture ( as you see it), under shiva’s trident - next to the shiva gana - who is up to his useful pranks - showing faces at the fallen asura. Amazing little characters these Ganas.

You can see shiva’s torso twisted in his effort to wrest the skin and is holding it like a blanket around him.

way down to the right, you can see his consort Parvati wanting nothing of this and rushing away, for she is scared and more scared is the young skanda - the portrayal of the baby is the master stroke of this sculpture - he wants to jump into the waiting hands of the lady helper, away from all this fearsome action …

Thats all the canvas that this master sculpture needed to sculpt this amazing microcosm of myriad emotions …Hats off for this splendid miniature. Well, did i say miniature?

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