gajendra moksham carvings-an appreciation

Appreciation of Gajendramoksham wood carvings:
It is based on the intricate, minute and exquisite carvings found on the ceilings of the mandapas in the KAVIYOOR & SAKTIKULANGARA temples, in Kerala.
Kaviyoor carving:
The work is really remarkable. Westerners believe in principles of pictorial composition as the diagonal, conical, elliptical etc. It is surprising that this specimen of work the components are composed diagonally when such formulae were unknown in India.
The figure of the elephant arranged diagonally across the panel, is balanced by the counter diagonally represented crocodile. Starting from the lower left handed corner where the cluster of lotus take their origin the rhythmic curves swing upward vigorously and gracefully with certain amount of strength, till they terminate in the top left hand corner. Another line of movement that guides your eyes, through the chain on the body of the elephant, up by the lotus stalks, to the lotus flower in its curved trunk, lifted up. There is one more graceful curve radiating from the same corner, moves up through the body of the crocodile, to the right hand top corner, heightened and strengthened by the upturned tail of the elephant. And the lotus buds at the lower right hand corner.

There are seven lotus buds, six lotus leaves, and fully opened blossoms. Here the artist has incorporated into his work details like chain, rope, and the artificially decorated lotus stalks of the fully opened flower held up by Gajendra. The crocodile is represented as diving one indicating the earlier phase of attack.

Saktikulangara carving:
It is simple but eloquently suggestive. The craftsman has used five lotus leaves, which are arranged in such a way that the three on the left attract attention. There are no buds. The whole frame work is executed on an elliptical frame, with one strong line guiding the eyes from the lower left hand corner to the up the lotus stalks and leaves to the highest point to the top where we see, the lotus raised up by the elephant. Here the crocodile is seen in its natural course, and the elephant’s body is seen above the “level of water.” The struggle is in the final stage. The Vishnu chakra has already pierced the aggressor’s body. It is the finest specimen.