Keri: Content and depiction of art encompass a wide range of subjects. In Goa, whether it is sculptures, paintings or even architecture, wildlife has always found a place of significance in the arts of the land, since prehistoric times.
Tucked away in the hinterlands of Pansaimol in Sanguem taluka on the bank of the Kushavati is a laterite rock which has a menagerie carved on its surface. A similar art depiction is seen in Cazur in Quepem taluka on a granite stone and in Mauxi in Sattari on meta-basalt stone.
In Pansaimol, animals like bison, zebu, deer and peacock, among others, are captured in the rock art, while in Cazur it is the antelope, and in Mauxi, varied forms of zebu.
Animals even found place among the various insignia of the dynasties that ruled Goa. The Southern Shilaharas, who ruled parts of Goa, had the eagle as their insignia, but the most well-known is possibly the insignia of the Kadambas of Goa — the lion. The ape-god Hanuman found a place on their banner.
Besides, the link between the god and fauna have also been immortalised in stone, be it sculptures or panels.
Gajlaxmi panels depicting goddess Laxmi in a seated posture with two elephants standing on either side pouring water on her head have been found in Gulle, Sattari. These date back to the Kadamba period.
Then there are sculptures of gods, like that of Ravalnath which is shown with a horse as the mount and Vetal with a scorpion either on his chest or abdomen and a cobra wrapped around his neck.
Sculptures of god Kartikeya and goddess Saraswati have peacocks for mounts. Shiva is always depicted with a cobra wrapped around his neck.
This god-animal connection transcends religious lines in India. Sculptures of Jain Tirthankar, Parshavanath have a five-headed cobra over the head while the St Augustine Church has stone carvings with floral designs.
Kaavi paintings, which flourished in Goa, also embraced floral and faunal elements as did Goan architecture, furniture, pottery and jewellery, all of which are an extensive repertory of naturalistic motifs.
Jewellery pieces were especially inspired by local flowers, leaves, fruits, snakes, birds and animals.
“Like other parts of India, the Goan artists and artisans too drew inspiration from nature,” archaeologist from the Archaeology Survey of India, Abhijit Ambedkar, said.
Tucked away in the hinterlands of Pansaimol in Sanguem taluka on the bank of the Kushavati is a laterite rock which has a menagerie carved on its surface. A similar art depiction is seen in Cazur in Quepem taluka on a granite stone and in Mauxi in Sattari on meta-basalt stone.
In Pansaimol, animals like bison, zebu, deer and peacock, among others, are captured in the rock art, while in Cazur it is the antelope, and in Mauxi, varied forms of zebu.
Animals even found place among the various insignia of the dynasties that ruled Goa. The Southern Shilaharas, who ruled parts of Goa, had the eagle as their insignia, but the most well-known is possibly the insignia of the Kadambas of Goa — the lion. The ape-god Hanuman found a place on their banner.
Besides, the link between the god and fauna have also been immortalised in stone, be it sculptures or panels.
Gajlaxmi panels depicting goddess Laxmi in a seated posture with two elephants standing on either side pouring water on her head have been found in Gulle, Sattari. These date back to the Kadamba period.
Then there are sculptures of gods, like that of Ravalnath which is shown with a horse as the mount and Vetal with a scorpion either on his chest or abdomen and a cobra wrapped around his neck.
Sculptures of god Kartikeya and goddess Saraswati have peacocks for mounts. Shiva is always depicted with a cobra wrapped around his neck.
This god-animal connection transcends religious lines in India. Sculptures of Jain Tirthankar, Parshavanath have a five-headed cobra over the head while the St Augustine Church has stone carvings with floral designs.
Kaavi paintings, which flourished in Goa, also embraced floral and faunal elements as did Goan architecture, furniture, pottery and jewellery, all of which are an extensive repertory of naturalistic motifs.
Jewellery pieces were especially inspired by local flowers, leaves, fruits, snakes, birds and animals.
“Like other parts of India, the Goan artists and artisans too drew inspiration from nature,” archaeologist from the Archaeology Survey of India, Abhijit Ambedkar, said.
