Orissa Review

The Impact of Geeta- on Odia Sculptures

Pramodini Jena

The Dasavatara worship (ten incarnations) a flute were sculpturally represented and flourished at Puri being influenced by the Geet worshipped, but Yugala Upasana Govinda of Kaviraj Jayadev and this cultural appeared in the later period. tradition spread throughout Odisha as well as the Prachi Valley, which created the scope for the We have come across two types of devotees of different ideological thoughts. Hence Krishna-Gopinath images with the Prachi Valley, the worship of Gods like Narsimha, Varaha, though Krishna as Gopinath worship flourished Vamana, Trivikrama, Buddha, , throughout India. The Krishna-Gopinath image Sankarsana and Krishna Gopinath flourished is worshipped as the side deity at the Grameswar temples of Nibharana, near Nayahat, Puri and throughout the region. In course of time the the other images with the Akhandalesvara temple sculptural representation of artistic style of different of Prataprudrapur Sasana, close to Kenduvilva. incarnations were constructed and worshipped But the images of Krishna-Gopinath are accordingly in the temples as the main cult deity sculpturally the same or the exact replica. or as the side deities with the Madhava- temples in Odisha as well as the Prachi Valley. The chlorite stone images are 15" in height where Krishna stands majestically in thrice-bent After the publicity of Geeta Govinda of pose in double lotus pedestal, under a flower- Kaviraj Jayadeva, the fourhanded Madhava- laden Kadamba Tree, decorated with Makara Vishnu- images were sculpturally arch, holding a flute in two hands. A herd of cows decorated with the devotees, the worshippers, and the mount Garuda depicted on the pedestal the royal couples only but not as the two handed ornamentally decorated with celestial ornaments Madhava Vishnu-Krishna during the Ganga like Keyura, Kankana and ear rings and the Kirit dynasty. crown over the head. But these two Krishna- But it was strange that the sculptural Gopinatha images are worshipped as the side deities with a Shiva temple, the cultural deviation representation of dual image did with the Prachi Valley, though the Harihara worship not appear till the period of Prataprudra Deva, is well acquainted with the Prachi valley. though Krishna images of Gopinath form flourished throughout the country and also with the Prachi But the Krishna -Gopinath image of 4’10" Valley. Though Krishna Gopinath images holding height traced and restored from the tank near the

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Gangesvara temple of Gangesvar Garh near eminent archaeologist, opined that Krishna– Sundaragram on the Fulnakhara-Niali Road is Gopinath images were sculpturally represented noteworthy. Here the Krishna Gopinath stands after the 13th century A.D. This Krishna-Gopinath majestically in a thrice bent pose in double lotus image was most probably sculpturally represented pedestal under a flower-laden Kadamba Tree, during the Ganga rule. As the image seems to be decorated with Makara arch, holding a flute in the Main Cult deity of life sized and obivious that his two hands with celestial ornaments like Keyura, this image was worshipped in a separate temple. Kankana, ear rings and the necklace decorated But the very sculptural representation imitates the with Kaustubha. Decorated with flying description of Maharasa of the Basanta Rasa in Vidyadhara couples at the top corner of the arch, the Geeta Govinda of Devotional poet Jayadev. Mardali and Changuri Musicians are present on The village Gangeswar Garh is very close to both sides of the arch. But the four handed Brahma Kenduvilva, the birth place of celebrated poet. and the Vishnu, the iconographic deviation, are Krishna-Gopinath images are invariably flanked on both side of the prominent Makara worshipped throughout the country and Radha Arch. A herd of cows depicted on the pedestal, images on metallic form or stone medium, were four bearded devotees are present on both side placed in the later period, which originated from of the pedestal and mount Garuda is present the Gajapati king Prataparudra Deva. But this outside the pedestal in Namaskar Mudra. But the image of Krishna Gopinath encircling the Asta unique and exceptional feature with this image Sakhis or eight Gopies is a rare phenomenon and that eight Gopies or Asta Sakhies are present on the unique sculpture of the Prachi valley, indicating both sides of Krishna –Gopinath expressing their the influence of Geeta Govinda of Kaviraj Jayadev devotional prayer with raising their hands upward on the sculpture. in self-surrender posture to Lord Krishna, the Almighty. This sculptural representation of Krishna-Gopinath clearly indicates the Maharasa which has been eulogized in the Geeta-Govinda Kaviraj Jayadev. This is the only image that is traced out of the whole of the Prachi Valley indicating the influence of the Geeta Govinda on Pramodini Jena is a Research Scholar in Shantiniketan the sculpture of the valley. Mr. P.K.Ray, the and lives near Sub-Treasury, Nimapada, Puri-752100.

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