Mamallapurams Great Relief
In the middle of the Relief there is a creature otherwise known as what/who?
Naga Serpent
The most sacred room
Garbhagriha
This temple is known as the earliest __________ temple
Free standing
Shiva in the Garbhagriha is known as what? Who else would be in there with him? What do they represent together?
Shivalinga with Yoni the basin that hold him (his consort). Shiva is the phallic form Yoni is the female genitalia. Together they give life, represent fertility and creation when they are together
Gupta is what two things?
Time period (dynasty) and an Art form
What would make this artwork Complete?
Water
The area devotees can gather typically facing the Garbhagriha, also known as an assembly hall
Mandapa
This temple is dedicated to which deity? How do we know this?
Vishnu, his imagery is everywhere and he was in the Garbhagriha. In reliefs he is the biggest person pictured
Ganesha is Shivas son. What is his power? How would you recognize him (what does he look like)?
Ganesha is the remover of obstacles, he has an elephant head
Gupta period was the beginning of royal patronage. What types of artwork was being made?
Monumental, sculptures and architecture
The story behind this is.... (who and why)
King wanted the Ganga river to purify ashes of ancestors. Prayed to the gods to bring sacred river ganga down. Proved his worth by preforming something the Buddha did (aka Fasting, yoga pose) to show his dedication.
This tower is the one that holds the Garbhabriha
Shikhara
The plan of this temple is simple consisting of what?
One doorway, no mandapa, corner shrines, circumambulatory on two levels
Vishnu is the protector how do they typically show this in statues of him?
Multiplicity of weapons (many avatars) and he is static/tubular (standing on both legs equally showing stability
Monumentality at this time was helping to support what?
Political Power
When Shiva granted the wish for Ganga to come down, what did Ganga have to do first?
Ganga flowed around the hair of Shiva because she was too powerful to come down straight to earth. Flowing through the hair made Ganga Shiva's consort
Top most element on the temple, aligned with the main imagery in the Garbhagriha
The temple is facing which direction? Why is this important?
Facing west (typical temples faced east) This was the direction of the setting sun. The setting sun would make the red sandstone glow and make a dramatic scene
Durga is pictured usually defeating who? What is the scene supposed to convey to the person looking at it?
Defeating a Buffalo Demon. The scene is the triumph over evil (victory/success). Shows her power
The main artistic centers for the Gupta international style was where?
Mathura and Sarnath
What is the scene supposed to convey?
Center line that goes through the Garbagriha, is said to connect Earth to the Gods
Axis Mundi
The relief on this temple shows Vishnu doing what?
Vishnu is reclining on the Serpent Ananta dreaming of creating the universe. He is all 3 (creator, protector, and destroyer) being shown in his size compared to the other deities
In the Elephanta Caves at Cave 1 there are Shiva Reliefs. It shows 3 heads of Shiva. What are these three heads representing?
Center is calm meditative face, peace balance
Left is Fierce wrathful form
Right is softer more gentle
The Gupta Buddha has these features
More serious looking (meditative no smile), snail shell curls, ushinisha (more prominent not looking like hair)