Studies in Indian Art c7.s2.40

c7.s2.40

The art motifs in the works of Kālidāsa besides offering a rich field of study put us into possession of evidence about the date of the poet. For example, Kālidāsa refers for the first time to the motif of the two river goddesses Gaṅgā and Yamunā carved on the temple doorways in human form and attending on the deity (mūrte cha Gaṅgā-Yamune *tadānīm sachāmare devamāsevishātām* (Fig. 11). This agrees with the evidence of the Vishṇudharmottara Purāṇa stating that the river-goddesses should be shown standing on their respective vehicles with legs bent at knee and holding Full Vases in their hands¹.