Orissa Stone Carving
The motifs used are exquisitely embellished like the indolent damsels ‘AlasaKanyas’ and ‘Salabhanjiska’ lady with the bough of a sal tree and the heavenly beauties adorn the topmost tier of the Konark Temple, Konark wheel, Konark horse, elephant, lion composite mythical figures like ‘Gajabidala’, ‘Gajasimha’are quite popular. Other motifs include representation of deities such as Krishna and Radha, Laxmi, Vishnu. Durga, Ganesha, and Hara Parvati. These carvers also make images for installations in temples as presiding deities and Parswa-Devatas as well as large pieces for decoration of public places. One may find samples of these in museums. The four colossal Buddha images and the friezes depicting the life of the Buddha and Ashoka in the modern ‘Shanti Stupa’ at Dhauli are also the handiwork of Orissa’s craftsmen.
