Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c8.s1.19

c8.s1.19

*Daivāsuram*, the conflict between Devas and Asuras, Angels and Titans, represents the basic pattern of creation on the plane of matter. The powers of light are heavenly and immortal, those of darkness belong to the earth or matter and are mortal, bound by time and space. The celestial and the chthonic forces function at every level directed to cancel or overcome each other. The triumph of the Deva principle means life and of the Asura death. The whole pattern of Ṛigvedic myths is cast into the Daivāsuram mould which serves both in literarure and art as their life breath. Buddh's tempatation by Māra, Śiva's victory over Kāma, Devi's conflict with Mahisha, and a number of other themes offer a commentary on this basis cosmic myth. The Garuḍa-Nāga struggle depicted in Mathura art is a part of this symbolism, which in the Suparṇa Saga (*Sauparṇākhyāna*) appear as the Sauparṇas (heavenly birds) and Kādraveyas (the black serpents of dark regions) and enter into rivalry for obtaining mastery over the Cosmic Horse, viz. Sūrya. The Deva and Asura myths have a wide range and are found in all nations, holding the key to their religious beliefs and art form. A statement of surprising clarity is made in the Ṛigveda itself (RV. X. 5. 2., repeated in ŚB. 11. 1. 6,10) that all that men recount about the battles of Indra with the Asuras is pure illusion, for no enemy Indra ever had to fight. No historical basis need be tracad in these myths as the same deprives them of the truth of their vital purpose at several levels.