Not Saraswati but Gayatri: How tech helped correct 900-year-old mixup of goddess sculpture in MP
Archaeologists have identified a 900-year-old sculpture in Madhya Pradesh, previously misidentified as Goddess Saraswati, as a rare depiction of Goddess Gayathri, using advanced imaging and digital documentation techniques
Archaeologists in Madhya Pradesh, utilizing advanced scientific imaging and digital documentation including high-resolution 3D mapping, have corrected a 900-year-old misidentification of a 12th-century red sandstone sculpture, previously believed to depict Goddess Saraswati and housed in Bhopal's State Museum. By analyzing fine carved textures and cross-referencing with ancient Shilpa Shastras, researchers identified key iconographic discrepancies, such as the absence of a veena, a common attribute of Saraswati, and the presence of the Vedas and a lotus instead. These attributes, along with the goddess holding a rosary, sitting in lalitasana, and accompanied by a hamsa (swan) and celestial garland bearers, align with descriptions of Goddess Gayathri in texts like the Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana. The sculpture, unearthed in Dhar and exhibiting Western Chalukyan influence, was mistakenly identified as Saraswati due to its discovery at a historic learning center, despite contradicting visual evidence; this new research, which will be made accessible through digital platforms, highlights the rarity of Gayathri depictions and provides a more accurate understanding of the artifact.
Archaeologists in Madhya Pradesh, utilizing advanced scientific imaging and digital documentation including high-resolution 3D mapping, have corrected a 900-year-old misidentification of a 12th-century red sandstone sculpture, previously believed to depict Goddess Saraswati and housed in Bhopal's State Museum. By analyzing fine carved textures and cross-referencing with ancient Shilpa Shastras, researchers identified key iconographic discrepancies, such as the absence of a veena, a common attribute of Saraswati, and the presence of the Vedas and a lotus instead. These attributes, along with the goddess holding a rosary, sitting in lalitasana, and accompanied by a hamsa (swan) and celestial garland bearers, align with descriptions of Goddess Gayathri in texts like the Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana. The sculpture, unearthed in Dhar and exhibiting Western Chalukyan influence, was mistakenly identified as Saraswati due to its discovery at a historic learning center, despite contradicting visual evidence; this new research, which will be made accessible through digital platforms, highlights the rarity of Gayathri depictions and provides a more accurate understanding of the artifact.
Archaeologists in Madhya Pradesh, utilizing advanced scientific imaging and digital documentation including high-resolution 3D mapping, have corrected a 900-year-old misidentification of a 12th-century red sandstone sculpture, previously believed to depict Goddess Saraswati and housed in Bhopal's State Museum. By analyzing fine carved textures and cross-referencing with ancient Shilpa Shastras, researchers identified key iconographic discrepancies, such as the absence of a veena, a common attribute of Saraswati, and the presence of the Vedas and a lotus instead. These attributes, along with the goddess holding a rosary, sitting in lalitasana, and accompanied by a hamsa (swan) and celestial garland bearers, align with descriptions of Goddess Gayathri in texts like the Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana. The sculpture, unearthed in Dhar and exhibiting Western Chalukyan influence, was mistakenly identified as Saraswati due to its discovery at a historic learning center, despite contradicting visual evidence; this new research, which will be made accessible through digital platforms, highlights the rarity of Gayathri depictions and provides a more accurate understanding of the artifact.
Archaeologists have corrected a 900-year-old misconception about a Goddess Sculpture in Madhya Pradesh using technology and research. A 12th-century sculpture, originally believed to have been a representation of Goddess Saraswati, was revealed to be a rare depiction of the Goddess Gayathri.
The sculpture, made of red sandstone, is housed at Bhopal’s State Museum.
According to a report by the Times of India, archaeologists used cutting-edge scientific imaging to examine the artefact.
They also used new digital documentation to decode the iconographic details that were previously missed. High-resolution 3D mapping was used to reveal fine carved textures.
The archaeologists matched the details on the artefact to ancient Indian texts called Shilpa Shastras, which served as detailed manuals for art and designs used in Hindu temple architecture, paintings and sculptures.
The first detail that became apparent was that the sculpture was missing a veena. This was significant because art from the Gupta period always depicted Saraswati with a veena.
Instead of a veena, the goddess holds the Vedas and a lotus. This depiction closely matches the descriptions of Gayathri in texts like the Srimad Devi Bhagavata Purana.
Archaeologist Ramesh Yadav said, “The four-armed goddess sits in lalitasana, holding a rosary, lotus and the Vedas. A finely carved hamsa (swan) beside her symbolises wisdom, while celestial garland bearers affirm her divinity. Together, these attributes identify the deity as Gayatri rather than Saraswati.”
Yadav also said that Images of Gayatri are rare.
The statue has a strong Western Chalukyan influence in its modelling. The sculpture was unearthed in Dhar, the capital of the Parmar dynasty (9th to 14th century)
The misconception that the sculpture was of Saraswati came about because it was found at a historic learning centre.
However, the visual evidence did not add up.
The new 3D models and digital platform would now allow people to study the rare sculpture, according to the Archaeology Commission, Madan Kumar Nagargoje.