Sanchi: East Gate, detail of Yakshi
Date
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Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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Abstract
Description
Providing a familiar sight to the common folk entering the stupa are the many Yakshas and Yakshis mingled with the scenes of Buddha's life on the gateways, The Yaksha and Yakshi are protective and benevolent beings whose roles as subsidiary decoration in no way hamper their familiarity or cult significance, They appear in traditional poses like this Yakshi embracing her beloved tree while she gently imparts the ritual blow of life to it, Although the Yakshi is carved very much in the round, her orientation is still quite frontal, In most cases this would render her form rather flat, but, in fact, the curvacious volume of her body is preserved despite the almost unavoidable retention of harsh angles in her arms, Because the figure is assuming the position of a bracing element, these angles are necessary even though the 'brace' actually holds nothing,
Keywords
Sanchi, architecture, stone sculpture, mounted transparency set
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Type
Image
Archives Series
Basham Collection
Date created
circa 1970s
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This image is provided for research purposes only and must not be reproduced without the prior permission of the Archives Program, Australian National University.
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Restricted until
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