It houses a variety of collections, including sculpture, painting and textiles. Most of the works are centuries old, and I did not see any contemporary art on display. I spent about two hours at this large museum, taking photos of whatever grabbed my eye the most.
Vajra Tara, 11th century C.E.
Tara is a deity in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist belief. Her name means "star" and she is associated with Avolokiteshvara, or the Bodhisattva of Compassion. According to the Glossary of Indian Art, A Bodhisattva is a Buddha in the making, a spiritually advanced being who delays his entry into Nirvana in order to stay in the world and save other sentient beings. Tara is believed to have come into being from the tears he shed in sympathy for the suffering of humankind.
Vishnu, 5th century C.E.
Vishnu is considered one of the three principal deities of Hindu belief. Brahma is revered as the creator, Vishnu as the preserver, and Shiva as the destroyer.
Kali, 7th - 8th century, C.E.
I've described Kali earlier in this blog; she is a destroyer of evil who gets carried away and goes on an indiscriminate killing spree.
Many exhibits in the museum are well-labeled but there are whole sections that lack any explanation whatsoever. The "tribal" art section seemed to have been somewhat forgotten by the administration, with empty display cases, harsh lighting and no descriptions of many of the artifacts. However, I found the works here to be among the most striking in the museum.
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