S O L D
Manasa Seated in Rajalilasana
Manasa Seated in Rajalilasana, Stele in black basalt, Manasa seated in rajalilasana on a lotus-shaped pedestal holding the naga in her left hand, which rises behind her with its seven heads. She is flanked by her husband Jaratkaru and her son Astika (missing).
Dim. 38 x 21 cm
INDIA – Pala period, 12th century
Provenance: French private collection
Expert : Cabinet PORTIER, Madame Alice JOSSAUME:
Madame Alice JOSSAUME is an Expert at the Court of Appeal of Paris, Member of the French Syndicate of Professional Experts in Works of Art and Collections (SFEP), Member of the Company of Judicial Experts in Works of Art and Furnishings(CEJOA)
Condition: Excellent condition, fully consistent with the age of the sculpture. Extensive wear, weathering, some natural erosion and losses to exposed areas, minor nicks and scratches.
Manasa is a goddess of snakes, worshipped mainly in Bengal and other parts of Eastern India, chiefly for the prevention and cure of snakebite and also for fertility and prosperity. Her myths emphasize her bad temper and unhappiness, due to rejection by her father Shiva and her husband, and the hate of her stepmother, Chandi (Shiva’s wife, identified with Parvati in this context). Denied full godhead by her mixed parentage, Manasa’s aim was to fully establish her authority as a goddess and to acquire steadfast human devotees. Manasa is depicted as being kind to her devotees, but harsh to people who refused to worship her.
Literature comparison: Compare a closely related black schist stele, dated to the 12th century, in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1962,1113.1. Compare also a related copper alloy figure dated to the 10th century in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, accession number M.83.1.2, and a ritual ewer depicting Manasa, dated to the 10th century, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1987.142.340.
Auction result comparison: Compare a closely related black stone stele depicting Manasa, dated to the 12th century, at Sotheby’s New York in Indian & Southeast Asian Art on 20 September 2005, lot 62, sold for USD 13,200 (ca. USD 18,050 in today’s currency).
*Manasa (Sanskrit: मनसा, romanized: Manasā) is a Hindu goddess of snakes. She is worshipped mainly in Bihar, Bengal, Jharkhand, South Assam and other parts of northeastern India and in Uttarakhand, chiefly for the prevention and cure of snakebite, and also for fertility and prosperity. In Hinduism, Manasa is the sister of Shesha and Vasuki, king of Nāgas (serpents), and wife of sage Jaratkaru. She is the mother of the sage Astika.[2] She is also known as Vishahari (the destroyer of poison), Nityā (eternal) and Padmavati.
In regional tradition, her stories emphasise her bad temper and unhappiness, due to rejection by her father, Shiva, and her husband ( Jagatkaru), and the hate of her stepmother Chandi (Shiva’s wife, identified with Parvati in this context). Manasa is depicted as kind to her devotees, but harsh toward people who refuse to worship her. Denied full godhood due to her mixed parentage, Manasa’s aim was to fully establish her authority as a goddess, and to acquire steadfast human devotees.
