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Bharat Kala Bhavan
An Art And
Archeological Museum |
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The Museum houses about two thousand stone sculptures from circa 3rd century B.C. to the 14th century A.D. These hail from various sites stretching from the ancient Gandhara regions (modern Afghanistan and Pakistan) to Bengal but mostly represent the so called Ganga- Yamuna valley. Made in various kinds of stone such as schist, slate, sand stone (red and buff), lime, chlorite, basalt and granite, the pieces include divine and semi-divine figures related to Hindu, Buddhist, Jaina and Folk religions of India. Of these sculptures, a few being inscribed are historically important. There are some sculptures which betray rare iconography of certain divinities. There are also some sculptures which were relieved with fascinating narratives and finally, there are quite a few which are artistically beautiful and pleasing.
The
Museum has in its collection a few ring stones. Executed superbly,
these small ring stones are dated between c. 3rd century B.C. and
lst century B.C. Carved in Chunar sand stone, these were mostly
collected either from Rajghat in Varanasi or from Kausambi near
Allahabad. Some of these have a hole in the middle while others are
devoid of it. Decorated with floral and vegetal motifs and animals,
a few of these indicated the standing figure of a mother goddess.
The scholars ascribe their relations with solar symbolism and the
cult of mother goddess and consider these as symbols of Sakti
worship. The Museum also possesses a number of fragmentary pieces of
pillar capitals. Belonging to the Asokan period, these stone pieces
came as gifts from the Archaeological Survey of India, Sarnath
region. |
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