The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c9.126

Language: English

v1.c9.126.1

**Pose:** The most approved position for gods is standing on both legs, embodying the idea of firmness and dignity: for goddesses, the same, but resting on the leftfoot, the right leg crossing the left, and touching the ground by the ends of the toes. For Kṛṣṇa this feminine position is the most approved, with three bends in the body (*tribhaṅga*), the first caused by the crossing of the legs, the second by a curvature at the waist, and the third by an inclination of the head to one side, generally the left. This is esteemed the most amatory and graceful, and dancing girls are often represented with these, or similar, bends. The Greeks took this position to be indicative of frolicsome youth and effeminacy, and assigned it only to Apollo, Bacchus and Mercury, censuring it, like the Hindus, in grave subjects.⁵² For the different manifestations of Durgā this style of *tribhaṅga* is never tolerated, the myths on which they are founded requiring vigorous action. Such is also the case with some forms of the fierce god Rudra; and the figures of that divinity are often represented in positions and attitudes expressive of violent agitation. When, however, Śiva appears in the company of his consort, the lady is placed on the lap of her husband, and the attitude adopted is one of easy grace and enjoyment. In the case of seated single figures of goddesses the usual position is that of squatting on a bench or chair, with one foot hanging down, or resting on a stool or a lotus.

v1.c9.126.2

Ordinary women of quality appear squatting with the legs crossed. This is, however, far from being a general rule, and the pose is regulated by the nature of the subject, and by the place where they are located. Standing on one or both legs; leaning forward, or backward, or to one side; dancing, running, leaping, sitting straight, or reclining on a pillow, are positions of common occurrence; but on the whole vigorous manifestations of active energetic action are less frequent, and those of an idle enjoyment of life predominate. "In harmony with this, we find full swelling luxurious softness of forms, and easy carelessness of attitude."⁵⁸ The nature of the Indian climate and its action on the mind and body of man to which references have already been made is sufficient to account for this, without any recourse to the dreaminess of Indian philosophy and religions to [**61**] which European authors are so apt to refer everything Indian. The temper of nations, the outcome of the climate they live in, is a much more potent influence in such cases than religion, which itself is governed and moulded by it. It controls alike their aspirations in a future world as well as in this. The Valhalla of the Scandinavians, the Paradise of Muhammad, and the Indra's heaven of the Hindus, are all manifestations of climatic influences on the mind of man. And such influences are all-powerful on ordinary life and enjoyment.

v1.c9.126.3

In northern climes, where active exertion is a *sine qua non* of existence, wrestling, hunting, and fighting, games involving violent exertion, and scenes depicting warfare are the most delightful. The highest effort of the poet is directed to war-songs, the noblest form of the dramatic art is tragic, and some of the finest specimens of the pictorial and plastic art exhibit the most stirring scenes of life. In India, on the other hand, the heat and enervating action of the climate for nine months in the year, render all exertion unpleasant, and life must, therefore, be more tranquil and seasoned with easy enjoyment. Music and singing and chess constitute the means of amusement; poetry sings of love; and the drama prohibits the exhibition of tragic scenes on the stage. It is but natural, therefore, that art here should take an easy, soft, voluptuous tone, very different from that which is most gratifying in high latitudes. In the early states of Indian society, when the Aryans had not yet lost their trans-Himalayan energy and vigour, the heroic in art and literature readily recommended itself to them, but in the seventh century of the Christian era, on the sea-board of Orissa, the case was otherwise.