History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c47.63

v2.c47.63

The next point which must be noticed in connection with the evolution of plastic art in Orissa is the presence of indecent figures in exterior decorations of temples. About this the late Mr. Ganguly observes:—“One of the most perplexing features of Orissan Architecture and Sculpture is the presence of indecent figures defiling the sacred walls of the Jagamohana, Nātamandira, &c., except those of the sanctum. The sight of such figures representing various scenes of voluptuousness is puzzling and nauseating. One is at a loss to understand why they have a place at all within the sacred enclosure. Not being able to account for this anomaly, one is surely to be led into the pitfall of an erroneous conclusion that the artist who designed these ornaments to decorate the outer walls of a temple must have belonged to a race most morally depraved, and vicious. I enquired of the local pandits for a reasonable explanation, who could offer none; I came to learn afterwards that such indecent figures are prevalent not only in Orissa, but in other parts of India as well. As an illustration, I may cite the case of the temple of the Kandarya Mahadeva at Khajuraho in Bundelkhand.”¹