The Art of Expression

                                  The Art of Expression

Two types of sculptures occupy a prominent place in the history of Tamil Nadu sculpture. Clay sculptures and stone sculptures. The history of these clay sculptures begins from the Sangam period. The images of gods were made and worshipped from clay. Sculptures made from black stones are very rare during this period. One reason may be that the Sangam Tamil people considered stone as an inauspicious material. Since these stones were used to make memorial signs for the dead and to set tombstones, they may have avoided creating sculptures of gods in this way. Four elements occupy a prominent place in sculptures. They are

1) Facial expressions

2) Hand positions

3) Standing posture

4) Sitting posture

These facial expressions vary in the sculptures of gods according to their incarnations, for example, in Samahara avatars, the face is angry and cruel. In sculptures that bestow grace, the face is gentle and smiling. All these reflect the thoughts of the sculptors.

Hand positions can be divided into two types:

1) Hand for beauty - reflecting the beauty of the sculptures

2) Professional - indicating the profession of the sculptures

Each hand position in the sculptures of gods represents a different meaning.

Professional Mode Hand Gestures in Sculptures

1) Abaya Muthirai- It means providing protection.

2) Varadha Muthirai- Represents giving a boon

3)  Kadaga Muthirai-  To holding Weapon

4) Simma karna muthirai-

5) Viyakyana Muthirai-To indicate philosophy

6) Soosi muthirai- To point out an object

7) Thargini muthirai-To warn

8) karthiri muga muthirai- to holding weapon

9) Albadma Muthirai

10) Vismaya Muthirai

11) Pallva Muthirai

12) Nithra Muthirai-To indicate sleep state

13) Artha Chandra Muthirai

14) Artha badhaga Muthirai

15) Trisula Muthirai 

16) Mushti Muthirai

17) Sigara muthirai

18) Poo Sparisa Muthirai-The state of touching the earth and worshipping

19) Ooru Muthirai

20) Aalinga Muthirai- Embracing

21) Danur Muthirai- Holding Bow

22) Kadi Muthirai-Representing majesty

23) Damaru Hastha

24) Thada Muthirai 

Two hand Gesture

1) Anjali Hastha-This mudra, which represents worship with both hands folded, can be seen in sculptures of kings, queens and Nayanmars. It represents devotion.

2) Dhiyana Hastha- Representing a state of meditation, found in Buddhist and Jain sculptures.

3) Pushpuda Hastha

4) Dharmachakra Hastha- Found in Buddhist Sculptures

Beauty Gestures

1) Gaja Hastha

2) Dhanda Hastha

3) Dola Hastha

4) Pracharidha Hastha

Standing Postures

1) Samapadha Standing posture-The feet of both legs are in the same position.

2) Artha Vaithasthiga Standing Posture

3)  Vaithasthiga Standing Posture

4) Kayoth Sarkam- we can see in the Sculpture of Jain Thirthangarars.

5) Vaishnavam

6) Vaisaga Sthanagam

7) Urththuva Janu

8) Yega padhava sthanagam- saint sculpture

Sitting Postures

1) Sukasanam- mostly seen in the images Siva and Vishnu

2) Padmasanam-  we can seen in Jain, Buddhist and some of Hindu deities

3) Lalithasanam-  Mostly in Vinayaka Sculpture

4) Maharaja Leelasanam

5) Raja Lingasanam

6) Veera Sanam- we can seen in Dakshinamoorty Sculpture (form of Siva)

7) Utkudikasanam

8) Yogasanam- commonly see in Vishnu one of avatars Narasimha

9) Swasthikasanam

10) Garudasanam- Vishnu Vehicle Garuda in this posture

Conclusion

The main thing that adds beauty to sculptures is the hand positions and facial expressions. In Tamil Nadu sculptures, various facial expressions and body positions are built. This practice can be seen from the Pallava sculptures. This can be seen in detail in the sculptures of the Chola period.