Celestial nymph harassed by a monkey

Title
Celestial nymph harassed by a monkey
Year/Period
11th century
Region
Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan, India
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: W : 46.8 x D : 20.5,
x H: 83.8 cm
Accession No.
2000-05629

Here we see an 11th century sandstone sculpture of a celestial nymph being harassed by a monkey. This celestial figure, Markatacheshta (monkey’s pranks) depicts the celestial lady standing in a baddhachari posture used in classical dance. This iconography is quite widely depicted on medieval north Indian temples from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Sometimes in Maharasthra too it is found.