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Assam State Museum
Assam State
Museum
Location : Guwahati, Assam
Founded In : 1940
Significance : A Large Range Of Archeological, Epigraphy,
Numismatics & Iconography Collectibles.
Assam State Museum was founded in
1940 with a nucleus collection assembled by the Kamarupa
Anusandhan Samiti (Assam Research Society). The museum's
collection is largely archaeological, with sections devoted to
epigraphy, numismatics and iconography. The sculptures from the
Assam region fall into four principal categories - stone, wood,
metal and terracotta.
According To The Inscriptions
In ancient inscriptions of
the Gupta period Assam was referred as "Kamarupa". Shiva is said
to have carried the dead body of his wife Sati and danced in
rage and sadness. Her body was scattered throughout the land by
the force of the dance. Her 'Yoni' (a female organ) fell at the
place where the Kamakhya Devi temple now stands, on a hill near
Guwahati, on the banks of the Brahmaputra.
Specimen's Of Vaishnava Influence
Worship in this temple
continues even today, with blood sacrifices of animals to
appease Goddess Shakti, the powerful female principle. Apart
from mother goddess worship, a strong Vaishnava cult also grew
in Assam and many sculptures in the museum reflect the multiple
strands of the culture of this region.
The bust of the Devi (9th century) and the figures of lovers in
the Assam museum reflect one aspect of the tradition of Shakti
worship. The figures in sculpture carry marked Assamese
features: high cheekbones and rounded faces, with long, often
slanted eyes.
With the conquest of Assam in 1288 by the Ahoms, a tribe of Thai
origin, the influence of Indian art reached more distant
regions, and in turn developed a new synthesis of cultures. The
mighty Ahom rulers prevented the Mughals from conquering their
territory and influencing their art. During the British rule,
like the rest of India, Assam came into administrative and
cultural contact with Britain.
Visiting Hours:
10.00 am-4.30 pm except on
Mondays and government holidays.
Suggested Viewing Time:
Half An Hour.
Book This Tour Package............
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