Page 5 - Oct-Dec 2018

VOL. 15 No. 3

sacred sculPTures

The art of image-making is as old as the Hindu religion, TrIBAL TrYsTs
as not only do the Sutras describe these images, but the Tribal wooden sculptural art
Brahmanas of the Vedas also refer to them. From textual brings out their traditional beliefs
references to actual artifacts, we see that wood has been and religious practices. The wood
an important material for making idols. carvings of the Khamptis, Wanchos,
Monpa, Konyaks, and Sherdukpens
are connected with decoration of
sACred sAndALWood funerary images.
It is believed that this tree has been Example: The Angami Nagas built
blessed by the Gods with its fragrance effigies of the dead as memorials.
and therefore it is used for religious
purposes. The white sandalwood was
used to make idols of Hindu deities.
This is an age-old craft that has been
practiced for over a thousand years, BUddHIsT IdoLs
over generations.
Buddhism had a lot of wood involved in its culture. From
Example: The earliest reference to a wooden sculpture is
a sandalwood image of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara. idols, to monasteries, to even prayer beads – they all saw
the presence of wood in various forms.
In Kashmir, King Ashoka propagated
Buddhism by constructing many
CHrIsTIAn CArVInG wooden temples, which unfortunately
are no longer seen.
Wood plays an important role in
Christianity. The cross is usually Example: Buddha figurines are
wooden, and some colonial churches generally made from Gambhar wood
even have intricately carved wooden in Gaya, although usually Peepal
altars. wood associated with Lord Buddha is
preferred.
Example: The polychromed wooden
Christ at the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Goa.

ACTIVITY: KAVAd KATHA

Kavads are colourful, wooden, storytelling boxes, with multiple folding doors from the Mewar region in Rajasthan.
These open in many layers to reveal stories through illustrations. These mostly come from epics like Ramayana and
Mahabharata. The storytellers travel with these boxes and narrate stories to their audiences.

The Kavad. The storyteller shows the outer Then, the donations flap is opened for The storyteller narrates the epic and Finally, the inner shrine

panel, which has highlights of money, to continue with the story. points at the relevant illustrations with is revealed, which has 3D

the story, like teasers. a peacock feather. images of the deities from
the story.
1. Divide the class into groups and give a theme to each.
2. Each group will write their story and make colourful illustrations. Tanya, VIII C, Saraswati Public School, Jagadhari;
3. Using cardboard, the class will create a kavad and share their stories. Sri Vishnu, VI, Delhi School of excellence, banjara

Hills, Hyderabad

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20