I first saw this sculpture some four years ago. I’ve been there three times since then and every time I see something new in it. It’s symbol of love, uncertainty lovers face till the last moment, love, assurance, love, excitement, love, disbelief, love…. Too much!! It’s simply mind blowing!
I passed through that corridor casually when I went there for the first time. I’d no clue of what I was seeing- my feeble knowledge of mythology could not uncover colors hidden in those black sculptures. I could guess that it was something related to Lord Shiva and Aparna, (I like this name of the goddess the best for it tells story of her devotion, firm love and self confidence!) I wandered through the stories, awestruck by the carving skills, without slightest clue that I was viewing part of Kumar-Sambhava carved entirely in stone!
My next visit was a learnt visit; I was with an excellent guide, who had studied these caves for last 25 years. We spent one whole day in the Kailas temple. And, stories unfolded on the rocky screen. I lived those stories then. I think, the series also contained story of ‘Sati’…, Parvati’s persistent efforts to please the God, Madan’s defeat, Rati’s cries, Parvati’s test and typical marriage talks at Himalaya’s house... as if we were walking on the time-line of mythology! N then we arrived at ‘The day’- the marriage! The sculpture took my breath away!!!!
There she stood in the marriage hall, beautiful, half ready and shy; with hair half tied! One ankle chain was missing… she had worn half of her ornaments... and she was already in the marriage hall!!! Her right hand was in Lord’s hand… ah, no, his hand was in her hand… (Well, this is not the typical Hindu ritual..! Groom holds bride's hand ideally!) His other hand was on her shoulder. She was too shy and modest to look up at him; her sight touched the floor through angle of eyes. With right knee bent slightly, she stood there; shy, confused but still elegant! Well, but this did not certainly convey a typical marriage scene though. This sculpture carved something quite bold for those days n even for today perhaps- Bride holding groom’s hand and groom patting her on shoulder in front of all invited people..??? :-)
We stood there silently memorizing the well known story. And different colors started emerging slowly through the black rock. Silent corridor filled with hushed noises, from different time. Her cheeks turned pink. Solid rock softened. Her silk saree rustled and unsaid feelings flowed. She suffered a lot to see this day. She left her palace at tender age, lived in woods, left food, lived on leaves, left even those later- thus was named as A-parna. Finally she achieved her love.
And when the day arrived, while getting ready for the ceremony, she heard the noise indicating his arrival. She must have lived all those past hardships in that moment! Her mind fluttered. He was typically known as ‘viragi’, well known for not having slightest interest in mortal pleasures! He was famous as short tempered, eccentric, without any civil culture! He lived in graveyard, his followers and devotees were ghosts and wild animals! What if something makes him angry and he leaves the ceremony…???
....... with this thought, She left her makeup room hastily. With least botheration about her half completed make up, she approached him eagerly and caught hold of his hand… what a sweet silly, womanly gesture!! With a smile on his lips, he patted on her shoulders and assured her without words that he would not leave her now! And in a moment, she realized what she had done!!! Her pink cheeks grew red. Her eyes turned towards ground and her knee bent with modesty….
And he, the sculptor, caught it all perfect!!! He froze the moment in the black rock. He painted the rock red by his carving. He carved a brave lover, like ‘abhisarikas’, who would not care for the world! And then he also carved a cultured Hindu bride, who knew her limitations, who crossed those and felt extreme shy… he carved the metamorphosis- complete change in a careless, unconventional man, and most importantly he carved the strength of love- which brought about this change; which blossomed the tender flowers, gentle emotions in dry burning fire!!
I respect the anon genius of another time, he taught me that extraordinary work travels through epochs without wear and lasts... name doesn’t. He taught me that we all represent one human race and individual intellect would be praised as overall intellect of the race. He taught me the unity and insignificant nature of human existence as an individual.
I passed through that corridor casually when I went there for the first time. I’d no clue of what I was seeing- my feeble knowledge of mythology could not uncover colors hidden in those black sculptures. I could guess that it was something related to Lord Shiva and Aparna, (I like this name of the goddess the best for it tells story of her devotion, firm love and self confidence!) I wandered through the stories, awestruck by the carving skills, without slightest clue that I was viewing part of Kumar-Sambhava carved entirely in stone!
My next visit was a learnt visit; I was with an excellent guide, who had studied these caves for last 25 years. We spent one whole day in the Kailas temple. And, stories unfolded on the rocky screen. I lived those stories then. I think, the series also contained story of ‘Sati’…, Parvati’s persistent efforts to please the God, Madan’s defeat, Rati’s cries, Parvati’s test and typical marriage talks at Himalaya’s house... as if we were walking on the time-line of mythology! N then we arrived at ‘The day’- the marriage! The sculpture took my breath away!!!!
There she stood in the marriage hall, beautiful, half ready and shy; with hair half tied! One ankle chain was missing… she had worn half of her ornaments... and she was already in the marriage hall!!! Her right hand was in Lord’s hand… ah, no, his hand was in her hand… (Well, this is not the typical Hindu ritual..! Groom holds bride's hand ideally!) His other hand was on her shoulder. She was too shy and modest to look up at him; her sight touched the floor through angle of eyes. With right knee bent slightly, she stood there; shy, confused but still elegant! Well, but this did not certainly convey a typical marriage scene though. This sculpture carved something quite bold for those days n even for today perhaps- Bride holding groom’s hand and groom patting her on shoulder in front of all invited people..??? :-)
We stood there silently memorizing the well known story. And different colors started emerging slowly through the black rock. Silent corridor filled with hushed noises, from different time. Her cheeks turned pink. Solid rock softened. Her silk saree rustled and unsaid feelings flowed. She suffered a lot to see this day. She left her palace at tender age, lived in woods, left food, lived on leaves, left even those later- thus was named as A-parna. Finally she achieved her love.
And when the day arrived, while getting ready for the ceremony, she heard the noise indicating his arrival. She must have lived all those past hardships in that moment! Her mind fluttered. He was typically known as ‘viragi’, well known for not having slightest interest in mortal pleasures! He was famous as short tempered, eccentric, without any civil culture! He lived in graveyard, his followers and devotees were ghosts and wild animals! What if something makes him angry and he leaves the ceremony…???
....... with this thought, She left her makeup room hastily. With least botheration about her half completed make up, she approached him eagerly and caught hold of his hand… what a sweet silly, womanly gesture!! With a smile on his lips, he patted on her shoulders and assured her without words that he would not leave her now! And in a moment, she realized what she had done!!! Her pink cheeks grew red. Her eyes turned towards ground and her knee bent with modesty….
And he, the sculptor, caught it all perfect!!! He froze the moment in the black rock. He painted the rock red by his carving. He carved a brave lover, like ‘abhisarikas’, who would not care for the world! And then he also carved a cultured Hindu bride, who knew her limitations, who crossed those and felt extreme shy… he carved the metamorphosis- complete change in a careless, unconventional man, and most importantly he carved the strength of love- which brought about this change; which blossomed the tender flowers, gentle emotions in dry burning fire!!
I respect the anon genius of another time, he taught me that extraordinary work travels through epochs without wear and lasts... name doesn’t. He taught me that we all represent one human race and individual intellect would be praised as overall intellect of the race. He taught me the unity and insignificant nature of human existence as an individual.
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