Beginning as early as the renowned Gupta Dynasty (319-467 CE) and continuing through the early medieval period (6th-13th century), the door jambs of northern and central Indian Hindu temples are typically graced with deified personifications of the Indian rivers Ganga (Ganges River) and Yamuna (formerly Jumna River). At first, they were place near the lintel but were later shifted to the base of the door jamb. The goddesses serve to demarcate the threshold into the sacred space within and to purify the worshippers who enter the sanctum.
This river goddess panel is partially damaged. The sculpture of Ganga on the right end of the relief is now missing except for a fragment of her right foot and the tail end of her mythical aquatic creature (makara) mount that extends beneath her attendants. (For a complete representation of this subject, see M.79.9.10.1.) On the left end, a fierce Shaiva door guardian (dvarapala) stands in a pronounced swaying posture. He has Shiva’s ascetic hairstyle (jata mukuta) with a skull and cobra, his third eye of wisdom (jñana netra), roaring mouth, fangs, and is bearded. He wears the Brahmanical sacred thread (yajnopavita) over his left shoulder, a long garland (vana mala), and an elegantly tied dhoti. He has four arms. In his upper right hand, he carries a now-damaged trident (trishula). In his upper left hand, he carries a now-damaged multi-headed cobra. He holds a skull cup (kapala) in his lower left hand. His lower right hand is now missing. He may represent Shiva in the form of Mahakala, who functioned as one of the eight guardians of Shiva temples. Beside him are two attendants in the river goddess’s retinue: a full-breasted female wearing exquisite jewelry, and a female dwarf looking up at her now-missing mistress and holding a cosmetic bag. This sculpture may have originally been on the same temple as M.74.5.6 and M.77.19.27. A sculpture of Shiva’s Family from the same temple is in the National Museum of Korea (formerly LACMA M.73.4.12).
See Vishakha N. Desai and Darielle Mason, eds., Gods, Guardians, and Lovers: Temple Sculptures from North India, A.D. 700-1200 (New York: Asia Society Galleries, in association with Ahmedabad: Mapin Publishing, 1993): 238-239, no. 59.
