King Narasimha in Worship

Description

This sculpture, attributed to the Eastern Ganga dynasty who ruled over modern-day Orissa between c. 11th-15th centuries, depicts the king Narasimhadeva who ruled c. mid 13th century CE. This relief depicts the king with folded hands, facing a temple priest holding rosaries. The form of the king is covered in jewellery and decoration to set him apart from the rest- he is shown wearing necklaces, armlets, bangles, anklets etc. in addition to his garments, whose folds show beautifully due to skilled craftsmanship. The king is also shown carrying a sword. The object of the king's veneration are present to the left of the sculpture- a Shivalinga, the deity Jagannatha and a Devi. This worship occurs inside a carved double-roofed temple structure, whose holiness is symbolised by the purnaghata motif flanked by the lions and parrots. In the foreground one also finds carvings of Shaiva and Vaishnava devotees, worshipping outside the temple. The aim of this relief, in supporting the adoption of Narasimhadeva's titles as Paramamahesvara, Durgaputra and Purusottamaputra, was to establish the relation of the king with multiple religious sects- including the Shaivite, Shakta and the Jagannatha cults.