Nine Celestial Bodies (Navagraha), 700s. Central India. Sandstone; overall: x x cm (17 1/2 x 62 7/16 x 7 3/16 in.). Near temple entrances, the nine celestial bodies were depicted in an orderly row, often in figural form. From left to right they are: Sun with a tall crown and the female Dawn in front of him. The next five figures are nearly identical: Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. As a portent of doom, Saturn was wounded by a goddess to prevent him from moving swiftly, so he stands on one leg. The bodiless head is Rahu, the eclipse, who swallows the moon until it fal
Nine Celestial Bodies (Navagraha), 700s. Central India. Sandstone; overall: x x cm (17 1/2 x 62 7/16 x 7 3/16 in.). Near temple entrances, the nine celestial bodies were depicted in an orderly row, often in figural form. From left to right they are: Sun with a tall crown and the female Dawn in front of him. The next five figures are nearly identical: Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. As a portent of doom, Saturn was wounded by a goddess to prevent him from moving swiftly, so he stands on one leg. The bodiless head is Rahu, the eclipse, who swallows the moon until it falls out his neck. The serpent-tailed figure is a comet.
Size: 3400px × 1682px
Photo credit: © CMA/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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