Keri: The content and portrayal of art covers various subjects.
In Goa, whether it’s a statue, painting or even architecture, wildlife always finds an important place in art art, since prehistoric times.
Tucked away in the interior of Pantiaimol in Sanguem Taluka on the edge of Kushavati is a laterite rock that has a menagerie carved on the surface.
A similar art depiction was seen in the caz of quepem taluka on granite and in Mauxi in Sattari on meta-basalt stone.
In Pantiaimol, animals such as bison, zebu, deer and peacock, among others, were arrested in stone art, while in the caz of the deer, and in Mauxi, various shapes of Zebu.
Animals even found a place among various symbols of the dynasty that ruled Goa.
Southern Shulataras, who ruled the cave part, had an eagle as a symbol of them, but the most famous might be the symbol of Kadambas Goa – The Lion.
The Ape-God Hanuman found a place in their banners.
In addition, the relationship between gods and fauna has also been immortalized in stone, whether the statue or panel.
The Gajlaxmi panel illustrates the goddess of Laxmi in a sitting posture with two elephants standing on both sides pouring water on her head has been found in Gulle, Sattari.
This date returned to the Kadamba period.
Then there was the carving of the gods, like that from the ravalnath which was shown with a horse as a mountain and vetal with scorpions both on his chest or stomach and cobra wrapped around his neck.
The statue of Allah Kartikeya and Dewi Saraswati have a peacock for mounts.
Shiva is always described with the cobra wrapped around her neck.
The connection of these gods goes beyond religious lines in India.
The statue of Jain Tirthankar, Parshavanath has a five-headed cobra over the head while the St Augustine church has stone carvings with flower designs.
Kaavi’s paintings, which are developing in Goa, also embraced the elements of interest and fauna as well as the architecture of Goan, furniture, pottery, and jewelry, all of which are extensive treasures of naturalistic motifs.
Jewelry pieces are mainly inspired by local flowers, leaves, fruits, snakes, birds and animals.
“Like other parts of India, Goan artists and craftsmen also draw inspiration from nature,” Archaeologist from the Indian Archaeological Survey, said Abhijit Ambedkar.
Fauna depiction reveals interesting insights on ancient Goan art
