Shiva in the previous post is of Vrshabhavana and that at Elephanta is of sadashiva, this jatamukuta at Elephanta seems to be a trend followed all across the sculptures there. These caves were carved out during the 6th century by King Krishnaraja of the Kalachuri dynasty. The Pallavas are said to have ruled around the same period till the 8th century. Yet a classic Kalachuri jatamukuta seems to have made its way into pallava sculptures. This is entirely my interpretation without substantial evidence.
Yet it seems too obvious to ignore. Seems like we need to start looking at various kinds of crowns worn by rulers or the like to understand whether this was dynasty specific or whether it was a part of the shilpa shastra. Or maybe kalachuri influences did enter southern territory as there is enough political evidence to suggest they were contemporaneous to Cholas which means they have been around for a while. My guess might not be wrong after all...
Photo Courtesy: American Institute of Indian Studies
6 comments:
Jatamukuta means the one who wears the crown made from hair.
The real history of India has been warped, but it not be forever!!
om namah shivaya
Jata Mukuta seems to have been a symbol of Hindu pride, adopted by the tenth Sikh Guru, when he created a wing of militant hindus as Sikhs. The Sikh Jooda certainly did not come out of a vacuum.
Why do you call them militants? It's a very strong word in today's world and it certainly doesn't hold the same values of intolerance that is currently trending. Sikhs are very stable and peace loving, I don't agree with your choice of words.
Kavitha, Military per se is not a bad word, neither is 'militant' in the sense that Sikhism was created initially as rebels against the prevailing Mughal Governments. However, I do agree that in the present context the word 'militant' would sound akin to 'terrorism'; so perhaps a word "martial" would have been more appropriate.
Whatever be the case, the issue that I wanted to highlight was that Guru Gobind Singh chose the Jata-Mukuta to adorn his martial group; a style that had disappeared for centuries except in ascetics. The Sikhs are now the sole custodians of Shiva's Jata Mukut. Infact, the Guru even said that he was giving the Sikhs the roop of the 'Rishis'.
Thanks for clarifying, its a very logical conclusion to the culture of Sikhs, very enlightening indeed.
I was searching for ancient references of Jata Mukuta when I stumbled on your blog. A very interesting site indeed. With your interest in temples, I would like to share my distress at the conditions of Hindu temples; my blog on the issue at https://kulveersamra.wordpress.com/2013/06/28/the-mutilation-of-ancient-hindu-temples-in-india/
I write at kulveersamra.wordpress.com.
Thanks.
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