2017-07-22 Sat

Art is something which everyone loves, and India is very well known for it.

In 1917, the sculpture featured on the stamp shown alongside was excavated on the banks of Ganga at Didarganj Kadam Basual. After studying the sculpture, it was dated around 300 BCE to 200 BCE.

On the basis of technique, polish, and surface adornment, it seems that the life size statute belongs to the Mauryan period. Some historians think that the attractive body form and heavy anklets relate the image to a later period, that of the Kushanas.

However, the Mauryan features of this image override the other considerations. The figure, with a bare torso, wears a hip-hugging garment and is heavily bejewelled. This type of feminine drapery along with abundant jewellery became a common feature in later times. The technique beautifully demonstrates how stone has been used to outline bodily features as well as depict the heavy folds of the drapery falling between the legs. Since the figure holds a chauri in her right hand, it may be the depiction of an attendant at court or to important people of that time.

The Didarganj Chauri Bearer is widely viewed by archaeologists as one of the finest and most precious artifacts of ancient Indian sculptural art.

In 1985, India issued a very beautiful 1 rupee stamp depicting Didargunj Yakshi . The Yakshi embodies close to perfect standards of feminine beauty of ancient India. Presently this mirror-like polished Yakshini stands 5’2’’ tall in the Patna Museum.