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Rare Image of Camunda (Chamunda)
Northern India or Pakistan
10th century
height: 13.9cm
The goddess Camunda, a grotesque manifestation of Devi, sprung
from the brow of Kali (another aspect of Devi) to defeat the demons
Canda and Munda. She became known as Camunda, a contraction of
Canda and Munda after successfully completing this mission. By
tradition, the goddess haunts cremation grounds or fig trees.
In this image, Camunda bug-eyed and with fangs protruding from her
mouth, sits on the body of Canda, one of the defeated demons. The
severed head of Munda is held in her middle left hand. The lower left
hand holds a skull cup which by tradition is brimming with blood. The
upper left hand holds a writhing snake.
The three left hands hold a sword, a double skull drum and a trident or
trisular respectively.
She wears a yajnopavita (a sacred thread worn by mostly Hindu male
priests) that comprises skulls and which falls from her neck to her feet,
and a jata mukuta headdress.
Camunda and Munda rest on a petalled dais, which is on a rectangular
platform. A flaming mandorla rises from the platform; the aureole
behind Camunda's head is in engraved in the form of an open lotus
petal.
Images of the goddess often show a shrunken, skeletal body and
appear on the exterior walls of shrines dedicated to Shiva or to Devi,
but this image is rather fleshy. It has an even green patina, and
contours smoothed by time and weathering. One of the front legs of
the platform now is missing but this is a minor loss given the great age
and rarity of this image - the image nonetheless stands upright in a
stable and solid manner as if all four feet were present. Overall, this is
a most interesting and unusual piece.
References: Dye, J.M., The Arts of India: Virginia Museum of Fine
Arts, Philip Wilson Publishers, 2001
Inventory no.: 749
This Item is available - Ask about this item
Rare Image of Camunda (Chamunda)
Northern India or Pakistan
10th century
height: 13.9cm
The goddess Camunda, a grotesque manifestation of Devi, sprung
from the brow of Kali (another aspect of Devi) to defeat the demons
Canda and Munda. She became known as Camunda, a contraction of
Canda and Munda after successfully completing this mission. By
tradition, the goddess haunts cremation grounds or fig trees.
In this image, Camunda bug-eyed and with fangs protruding from her
mouth, sits on the body of Canda, one of the defeated demons. The
severed head of Munda is held in her middle left hand. The lower left
hand holds a skull cup which by tradition is brimming with blood. The
upper left hand holds a writhing snake.
The three left hands hold a sword, a double skull drum and a trident or
trisular respectively.
She wears a yajnopavita (a sacred thread worn by mostly Hindu male
priests) that comprises skulls and which falls from her neck to her feet,
and a jata mukuta headdress.
Camunda and Munda rest on a petalled dais, which is on a rectangular
platform. A flaming mandorla rises from the platform; the aureole
behind Camunda's head is in engraved in the form of an open lotus
petal.
Images of the goddess often show a shrunken, skeletal body and
appear on the exterior walls of shrines dedicated to Shiva or to Devi,
but this image is rather fleshy. It has an even green patina, and
contours smoothed by time and weathering. One of the front legs of
the platform now is missing but this is a minor loss given the great age
and rarity of this image - the image nonetheless stands upright in a
stable and solid manner as if all four feet were present. Overall, this is
a most interesting and unusual piece.
References: Dye, J.M., The Arts of India: Virginia Museum of Fine
Arts, Philip Wilson Publishers, 2001
Inventory no.: 749
This Item is available - Ask about this item
