This
piece of art portrays the famous Stone Chariot in Hampi. Hampi originally
Hampe, the seat of the powerful Vijaynagara Empire, is a UNESCO World Heritage
site in Northern Karnataka, India. It was one of the richest and
largest cities in the world during its prime. As a seat of polity that extended
much over the southern India, Vijiayanagara or Land of Victory, was built by
its rulers as a show piece of imperial magnificence, famous for its might and
wealth. Predating the city of Vijayanagara, Hampi continues to be an important
religious center, housing the Virupaksha Temple and several other monuments
belonging to the old city.
The Stone Chariot or Kallina
Ratha, located at the Vittala temple, is in the demarcated Sacred Centre. Lord
Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of Lord Vishnu. The stone chariot located inside the campus
is almost an iconic structure of Hampi. On entering through the massive tower
of the temple, the first thing that draws your attention would be a series of
compact platforms along the central axis of the campus. At the end of these
platforms stands the Stone Chariot. This is in fact a shrine built in the form
of a temple chariot. An image of Garuda (the eagle god) was originally
enshrined within its sanctum. Garuda, according to the Hindu mythology, is the
vehicle of lord Vishnu. Thus the Garuda shrine facing the templeÔÇÖs sanctum is
symbolic. It may appear (and sometimes even referred to) as a monolithic
structure. In reality this stone shrine was built with many giant granite
blocks. The joints are smartly hidden in the carvings and other decorative features
that adorn the Stone Chariot. The chariot is built on a rectangular platform of
a feet or so high. All around this base platform is carved with mythical battle
scenes. Though the chariot is not resting on it, the four giant wheels attached
mimic the real life ones complete with the axis shafts & the brakes. A
series of concentric floral motifs decorate the wheels. It appears from the
marks on the platform, where the wheels rest, the wheels were free to move
around the axis.
In front of the chariot two elephants are
positioned as if they are pulling the chariot. In fact these elephants where
brought from elsewhere and positioned here at a later stage. Originally two
horses were carved in that position. The tails and the rear legs of the horses
can be still seen just behind these elephant sculptures. A broken stone ladder
once gave access to the sanctum is kept between the elephants. You can still
spot the marks on the floor and the doorsill where once the ladder stood.
Material:
Acrylic colours on Canvas
NOTE:
Maintenance
and cleaning - Dust the surface with a dry cloth
The Stone Chariot ÔÇô 1
- Product Code: WADE/CNTP/LSKA/CV009
- Availability: 1
-
₹ 5,936.00
- Ex Tax: ₹ 5,300.00
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Tags: Village, Painting, Expressions of India, Art, Canvas art