Didarganj Yakshi
DIDARGANJ YAKSHI
Through the annals of time, history has thrived on discoveries that have shaken erstwhile beliefs and theories of the ancient past. India is replete with such unearthed treasures, one of them being the Chauri-Bearer (Fly-whisk bearer) statue from Didarganj, commonly known as the Didarganj Yakshi. A beautiful admixture of Buddhist art elements, with supposed Mauryan standards of beauty, this sculpture has piqued the interest of various spheres. Standing at 5’2” in height on a pedestal and made of polished chunar sandstone, this exemplary stone sculpture exudes excellent craftsmanship and detailing at first glance. As one marvels further at the sculpture, the stone enlivens and ceases to be just stone: it becomes an element with life in it, waiting to tell its story.
Chauri-bearer from Didarganj, Bihar Museum
Found in 1917 on the muddy banks of the River Ganga in the city of Didarganj in Bihar, this statue has various stories about its discovery. One account states that the statue’s base was seen protruding from the banks and was eventually dug out, revealing the Didarganj Yakshi. The other, more dramatic account, based on a confidential police report filed by the inspector, recounts the discovery: the villagers of the area, while hunting for a snake that had escaped and slithered near the statue, chanced upon the buried sculpture and dug it out. As with history, absolutes are rare and varied, and interpretations coexist.
Another view of the Chauri-bearer from Didarganj
Some scholars differ on the identity of the sculpture, labelling it a yakshi, an otherworldly spirit that doesn’t align with the general characteristics of a yakshini. The statue is also considered a ganika, a highly skilled courtesan. Similarly, the dating and style of the Chauri-bearer statue are the subject of differing views. Scholars date the sculpture to the 3rd century BCE based on the statue’s polish, which is often associated with Mauryan-era art. In contrast, others date it to a later period, the Kushanas, and compare it with the Mathura Yakshis of the 2nd century CE.
The statue’s myriad facets have awed scholars. The statue epitomises ancient art, with elements like the intricate chauri or fly-whisk in the right hand, the slightly bent posture with one leg bent, as if weighed by the fly-whisk, the exquisite hairstyle with the heavily bejewelled upper part, contrasting with the lack of the same in the lower portion and covered only in a single sheer drapery and a beaded accessory below the waist, all set in stone. The sculpture is said to possess the hallmarks of beauty like ‘griva trivali,’ which are three-fold lines on the neck and ‘katyavali,’ which are folds of flesh at the waist. The rich iconography of the Didarganj sculpture is a delight to behold. It is widely celebrated, as evidenced by its current position at the Bihar Museum, where thousands flock to see the ancient sculptural marvel displayed in all its splendour and glory. Didarganj Yakshi is a sculptural gem that has survived the travails of time and stands as an embodiment of ancient craftsmanship. Interestingly, its image was used as a Festival of India stamp in 1985.
The Festival of India Stamp (1985)