2025-05-14 Wed

Motherhood has been revered across cultures throughout History . In #India, representations of deities as maternal figures can be traced back to the Harappa Civilization, where terracotta figurines of fertility goddesses have been uncovered at various archaeological sites. The Indian feminine divine tradition emphasizes the concept of ‘The #Mother ,’ encompassing aspects such as fertility, nurturing, care , and generosity.

This tradition of Mother Goddess worship continued to thrive during the Vedic period and remains evident in the practices of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths. The imagery of mothers and children persisted through the Mauryan period and evolved further during Gupta and medieval #artistic expressions. Notable representations include Jain Yakshi Ambika in Jain art, Mahamaya with her son Siddhartha in Buddhist art, and various depictions in #Hinduism , such as Parvati with her children Skanda and Ganesha, Yashoda or Devaki with #Krishna , and Kunti with the Pandavas.

The Khajuraho temples feature numerous sculptures that depict mothers and children, often showcasing a female figure cradling a child beneath a tree . These artistic representations are typically adorned with intricate #jewelry and #Clothing , underscoring the cultural significance of motherhood and the mother-child bond. For additional insights regarding the Khajuraho Group of #Temples and other sculptures, please refer to This Post.

On 23 October 1977, India Post issued a commemorative #stamp to celebrate the 15th International Congress of Pediatrics. The stamp, with a face value of Rs 2, features the renowned Mother and Child sculpture from Khajuraho. The sculpture belongs to the #Chandela Dynasty of the 10th – 11th Century CE. Found in the Khajuraho Group of temples in #MadhyaPradesh, the sculpture is currently housed at the Indian Museum, Kolkata .