Cookie Guyton – Research Summary

One can find the placement of the images that were created on the Kailasanatha Temple’s prakara and vimana quite confusing. The placement of the goddesses tend to not be the typical architectural designs that you would see if you were to compare other sculptures or temples.  Goddesses are usually portrayed as innocent and gentle rather than fearless and powerful.  Goddesses are also usually seen with a god or some sort of the opposite sex.  With this, the attention of the viewer would be on the male or the other main attraction that are considered greater than the goddesses. Size also helps depict the goddess’s strength and importance in the scene that she is in. The deep cut rock around them helps signifies their position. In the Kailasanatha Temple’s prakara and vimana, the goddesses face against each other as if they are trying to expose their differences.  The two groups of goddesses consist of warrior-like/impulsive forces and nurturing/inventive forces.  Within the temple, the two face and stand against each other.  This can give the impression that one side is weak and the other is strong.  The images can also consist of the idea that there are two different types of women and/or goddesses. The warrior-like goddesses face north as if they are more superior to the gentle and peaceful goddesses. The more gentle and inventive goddesses face south. The more warrior-like goddesses are identified with weapons or seem to be in some kind of warrior stance. They are also expressing their ability and jurisdiction. Their body language is sharper and seems to have more movement if they were in action. However, with the more gentle goddesses, they are more relaxed in their postures and may have different body jewelry or clothing than the warrior-like goddesses. All of the differences creates a polarity between the two that explains the tension within the placement of the relief sculptures.