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National Museum, New Delhi

The National Museum in New Delhi, also known as the National Museum of India, is one of the largest museums in India. Established in 1949, it holds a variety of articles ranging from pre-historic era to modern works of art. It functions under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The museum is situated on Janpath. The blue–print of the National Museum had been prepared by the Gwyer Committee set up by the Government of India in 1946. The museum has around 200,000 works of art, both of Indian and foreign origin, covering over 5,000 years.

It also houses the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology on the first floor which was established in 1983 and now is a Deemed to be University since 1989, and runs Masters and Doctoral level courses in History of Art, Conservation and Museology.

National Museum Building.
The current building of the National Museum was designed by the architect Ganesh Bikaji Deolalikar, and the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on May 12, 1955.

  • Once the building was ready, the new museum was inaugurated by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Vice-President of India, on December 18, 1960.

Lingam (left) with Nandi (right) in the museum garden.
A lingam (lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism.

  • Nandi is the bull mount (vahana) of the Hindu god Shiva. He is also the guardian deity of Kailash, the abode of Shiva. Almost all Shiva temples display stone-images of a seated Nandi, generally facing the main shrine.
  • See more at Lingam - Wikipedia and Nandi (Hinduism) - Wikipedia.

Rock Edicts of Ashoka.
The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of more than thirty inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls, attributed to Emperor Ashoka of the Maurya Empire who reigned from 268 BCE to 232 BCE.

  • These inscriptions proclaim Ashoka's adherence to the Buddhist philosophy. The inscriptions show his efforts to develop the Buddhist dhamma throughout his kingdom.
  • Although Buddhism as well as Gautama Buddha are mentioned, the edicts focus on social and moral precepts rather than specific religious practices or the philosophical dimension of Buddhism.
  • These were located in public places and were meant for people to read.
  • See more at Edicts of Ashoka - Wikipedia.

Surya.
Konark Temple, Eastern Ganga Dynasty, 13th Century CE.

  • Surya is the sun as well as the solar deity in Hinduism.
  • The most famous Surya temple is the Konark Sun Temple, a World Heritage Site in Orissa. Constructed in the 13th century by the Eastern Ganga dynasty, on a pre-existing pilgrimage site for Surya god, the temple architecture mimics a grand chariot with twelve wheels pulled by seven horses.
  • See more at Surya - Wikipedia.

Saraswati.
Chahamana, 12th Century CE, Pallu, Rajasthan, 1.2 m (4 ft) tall.

  • Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning.
  • The goddess Saraswati is often depicted as a beautiful woman dressed in pure white, often seated on a white lotus, which symbolizes light, knowledge and truth. She not only embodies knowledge but also the experience of the highest reality.
  • See more at Saraswati - Wikipedia.

Trivikrama.
Pratihara, 11th century CE, Kashipur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Stone.

  • Vamana (lit. 'Dwarf'), also known as Trivikrama (transl. three steps), Urukrama (transl. far-stepping), Upendra (transl. Indra’s younger brother), Dadhivamana (lit. 'milk-dwarf'), and Balibandhana (transl. binder or killer of Bali), is an avatar of the Hindu deity Vishnu.
  • Originating in the Vedas, Vamana is most commonly associated in the Hindu epics and Puranas with the legend of taking back the three worlds (collectively referred to as the Trailokya) from the daitya-king Bali by taking three steps to restore the cosmic order.
  • See more at Vamana - Wikipedia.

Bull racing.
Bronze Late Harappan figure from Daimabad hoard, c. 2000 BCE.


Wheel of Dharma (Dharmachakra Pravartana).
Stupa casing slab, showing worship of the Buddha symbolized by the Dharma wheel on a throne. Amaravati AP, Satavahana. 1st-2nd c. CE. 95 x 118 cm.

  • The Dharma Chakra or wheel of dharma is a widespread symbol used in Indian religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and especially Buddhism.
  • In Buddhism, the Dharma Chakra is widely used to represent the Buddha's Dharma (Buddha's teaching and the universal moral order), Gautama Buddha himself and the walking of the path to enlightenment, since the time of Early Buddhism.
  • See more at Dharmachakra - Wikipedia.

Buddha in preaching attitude (symbolic).
Amaravati AP, Satavahana. 1st-2nd c. CE. 78 x 86.5 cm.


Worshippers of the Buddha.
Satavahana, 1st Century BCE to 2nd Century CE, Andhra Pradesh, South India, Lime Stone, size: 96.5x106.7x12.7cm.

  • This architecture piece adorning a stupa (possibly drum slab) is made of limestone.
  • The panel depicts the worship of some of the Buddhist symbol (possibly chakrastambha or Bodhi tree but it is not visible as the piece is damaged at the top) kept on a throne, below which the Buddha-pada are visible.
  • The central objects are flanked by worshipper couples on either sides in standing posture. On both the sides, male worshippers are represented first followed by the female worshippers. The most probable offering objects held in their hands are vases with flower or garlands.
  • This sculpture was unearthed in 1970s during the excavation of a Buddhist stupa at Chandavaram (District, Prakasham) in Andhra Pradesh.

Goddess with sword and trident.

Leogriff with rider.
Leogriff with rider. Buff sandstone from Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh. 5th century.


Nataraja.
The most iconic Chola dynasty bronze is the bronze figure of Shiva as Nataraja, the lord of dance.

  • In his upper right hand he holds the damaru, the drum of creation.
  • In his upper left hand he holds the agni, the flame of destruction.
  • His lower right hand is lifted in the gesture of the abhaya mudra.
  • His right foot stands upon the demon Apasmara, the embodiment of ignorance.
  • See more at Nataraja - Wikipedia.

Vishnu and Lakshmi on the shoulder of Garuda.
Hoysala. 12th Century CE. Halebid, Mysore.

  • Lakshmi Narayana or Lakshmi Narayan is the dual representation of the Hindu deities Vishnu, also known as Narayana, and his consort, Lakshmi, traditionally featured in their abode, Vaikuntha.
  • The most significant Lakshmi-Narayana myth that appears in various Puranas is the Samudra Manthana, where Vishnu assumes his Kurma avatar to assist the devas and the asuras in the churning the Ocean of Milk. Lakshmi emerges as one of the many treasures that are the product of the churning. The devas request Vishnu to marry her, and hence her auspiciousness is wed to his divinity, restoring the cosmic order.
  • See more at Lakshmi Narayana - Wikipedia.

Garuda.
Garuda – the winged vehicle for Vishnu – in adorned wood, 19th century.

  • Garuda is a Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (vahana) of the Hindu god Vishnu.
  • Garuda is described as the king of the birds and a kite-like figure. He is shown either in a zoomorphic form (a giant bird with partially open wings) or an anthropomorphic form (a man with wings and some ornithic features).
  • Garuda is generally portrayed as a protector with the power to swiftly travel anywhere, ever vigilant and an enemy of every serpent.
  • See more at Garuda - Wikipedia.

See also

Source

Location

Location: Janpath Rd, Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat, New Delhi, Delhi 110011, India