Abundance and Fertility

This work delves into the socio-cultural impacts of ancient Indian visual artifacts, shedding light on the rich iconographic legacy with its myriad styles and scales. The focus is on artwork from the Mathura region during the Kushan period, specifically between 50/60 and 300 CE, a time marked by a multicultural tapestry enriched with diverse traditional influences. The author argues that these artifacts are intricately linked to themes of abundance and fertility, exploring their origins. Through these ancient visual fragments, the author uncovers profound insights into the worldviews of the cultures that created them. The study critically examines depictions of spiritual deities such as Ekanamsha, Hariti, Matrikas, Naigamesha, Shashthi, and Skanda, all associated with child protection. These figures emerged from beliefs in supernatural forces offering psychological solace to women across various socio-economic backgrounds during the significant stresses of pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum periods. Carved in stone, these artifacts appear both as standalone figures and as part of larger multi-character scenes. Depending on their size, larger objects were likely stationary, while smaller ones were portable. This is an excerpt from a review by Dr. C. Rajendran.