Studies in Indian Art c12.s9.1

c12.s9.1

Recently we acquired for the Mathurā Museum a relief carved with a scene of the worship of a Śiva Liṅga (No. 2661, Fig. 97). Two persons wearing Scythian dress, boots, trousers and coat, holding garlands and flowers in their hands are shown as worshippers, paying their homage to the deity, i.e. Śiva Liṅga placed on a pedestal. This is the earliest representation in Mathurā art in which the actual worship of a Brāhmanical deity is depicted. A flying celestial poised in the air showering flowers is also carved in the proper left corner of the sunken arch containing the scene, and is similar to the Deva figures found in Buddhist sculptures of Mathurā. (Cf. Katra Bodhisattva image, Vogel's Catalogue, A. 1).