Somehow I missed this impressive Gupta period temple during my previous Gupta articles. However, I also realized that you can never say that you are done with your studies as it is a continuous process :).
Terracotta as an art is as old as our civilization. The primitive use of it in children's objects like toys which was their at the start of or civilization can still be seen in fashion. However it was the Guptas who conceptualize a whole building out of terracotta, where all the components of the building were made in molded bricks. Bhitargaon is the oldest surviving structure of this art.
There are about 128 terracotta narrative panels in situ and many more in various museums of our country coming out from excavation carried at Bhitargaon. In the eyes of many scholars, these panels are the best representation of this form of art.
fantastic site Saurabh. But question on the panel identified as "Vishnu killing Madhu & Kaitabh" - the south indian version seems to indicate that they were killed by the poison of Adisesha while vishnu was still in his cosmic sleep.
http://www.poetryinstone.in “*Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man*” – Nobel laureate, Rabindranath Tagore
Hi vj, actually I also had similar confusion as no where I read that these two demons were killed by Vishnu. But on other hand all the scholars who have written on this panel has identified it with this theme only. I need to check on Puranas on this Madhu-Kaitabha story. But, my assumption was that these demons were frightened by the poison of Adishesha however it did not kill them. Which text in south india narrates this story, any idea?
Devi Mahatmyam story as follows: At the end of a kalpa, when the universe was one ocean and the Lord Vishnu took to mystic slumber on Sesha, two terrible asuras, the well known Madhu and Khaitabha sprung in to being from the dirt of Vishnu’s ears. They wanted to slay Brahma. Brahma ji, seeing these two fierce asuras and Vishnu asleep and with a view to awaken Vishnu, with concentrated mind extolled Yoganidhra dwelling in Hari’s eyes. Brahma praised Yoganidhra to the extent that mother Maha maaya drew herself out from Vishnu’s eyes, mouth, nostrils, arms, heart and breast. Lord Vishnu quitted by her, rose up from his couch, saw those two evil asuras with eyes red in anger. Vishnu fought with those asuras using his own arms as weapons. The asuras proud of their exceeding power, and deluded by mahaamaya exclaimed to Vishnu, “Ask boon from us”. Bhagwan said, “If you are satisfied with me you must both be slain by me now. There is no need for any other boon here. This is my choice.” The two asuras bewitched by mahaa maya gazing then at the entire world turned in to water told Bhagwan to slay at a spot where the earth is not flooded with water. Bhagwan saying, “Be it so”, took them on his loins and severed their heads with his discus.
*thing to notice is that Vishnu fought the demons with his hands and the panel depicts the similar proposition *