Hindu Symbolism in Monumental Sculpture

The monumental reliefs of the post Gupta period portray the five different aspects of Shiva and the range of his powers, and the three stages of  emanation involved in Shiva’s manifestation in this world and also narrative stories of the heroic deeds of the gods. The reliefs are set in recessed niches and sculpted in monumental proportions.

            The five aspects of Shiva, creator, protector, destroyer, obscurer and releaser can be seen in the five implied heads of the Eternal Shiva at the cave-temple of Elephanta.  This sculpture makes the three heads resting above the massive shoulders appear quite natural, the fourth head is in the back and the fifth is unseen, but implied as be above the others.  The frontal head bears a serious expression and wears a huge carved crown and the piled up hair of a yogi.  This sculpture seems much more stable and static, in contrast to the Shiva Nataraja in its fluid dance pose, with wild dreadlocks flying with his motion.

            This relief also depicts Shiva in his second, eternal stage of emanation, while the relief of Visnu Narayana on the Cosmic Waters in the Visnu Temple at Deograh depicts the first, birth stage, with a relaxed, reclining pose and a lotus coming out of his navel to represent the birth of the universe.  The monumental panels themselves represent windows that allow the light of the diety to the outside world, thus depicting the third, formless stage of emanation. 

Excerpt from Marilyn Stokstad, “The Post-Gupta Period”: Art History: Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall: 1995: 383-388: http://www.phs.poteau.k12.ok.us/williame/APAH/readings/Post-Gupta%20Pd,%20Stokstad%20383-388.pdf