Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asian Sculpture, Room 47b

Bust of a Yogini

Bust
9th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Madhya Pradesh (made)

Bust of one of the sixty-four Yogini. A female figure with large rounded breasts and arms missing. She wears a tall coronet, large circular earrings and a necklace, The details are weathered, but there are indications that she was originally depicted as fearsome, with projecting teeth. Yoginis (practioners of Yoga) formed a group of 64 demons who were followers of the goddess Durga (or Kali).


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Hinduism
SCRAN
Object type
Bust
TitleBust of a Yogini (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Quartzitic sandstone
Brief description
Bust of a Yogini, sandstone, 9th century, MP central India.
Physical description
Bust of one of the sixty-four Yogini. A female figure with large rounded breasts and arms missing. She wears a tall coronet, large circular earrings and a necklace, The details are weathered, but there are indications that she was originally depicted as fearsome, with projecting teeth. Yoginis (practioners of Yoga) formed a group of 64 demons who were followers of the goddess Durga (or Kali).
Dimensions
  • Height: 64.5cm
  • Width: 37.2cm
  • Depth: 24.5cm
  • Display height including modern mount height: 74cm (Note: modern mount is 9.5 cm high)
  • Width of modern mount weight: 27cm (Note: modern mount is narrower than the object)
  • Depth of modern mount depth: 27cm (Note: modern mount is deeper than the object)
Gallery label
  • Yogini 800–900 Pratihara period Female deities are extremely significant in Hinduism.They are sometimes seen as manifestations of a universal goddess. Yoginis are attendants of one of the most important goddesses, the warrior Durga, consort of Shiva. Numbering up to 64, they often occupy the inner wall of a circular temple enclosure, open to the sky.They can be either benign or ferocious.Traces of projecting teeth suggest that this yogini had a fearsome character. Sandstone Central India (Madhya Pradesh, possibly Raipur region) Museum no. IS.9-1969 (06/06/2011)
  • YOGINI Sandstone Madhya Pradesh, Central India Circa 9th century Yoginis are female attendants in the retinue of the goddess Durga, consort of Shiva. They may be represented in a group of eight, or sixty-four, and typically occupy the inner wall of a circular temple enclosure facing an image of Shiva. Yoginis can be either benign or ferocious in character; traces of projecting teeth suggest that this Yogini was depicting a fearsome aspect. IS 9-1969(c. 2007)
Object history
Bought from Spink and So Limited , King Street, London for £2,000 (central fund).
Another bust apparently from the same site was sold at Sotheby's sale on 2.12.68 lot no. 93. Possible that both the busts come from a Yogini temple in Raipur region of Madhya Pradesh.
Historical context
Yoginis are female attendants in the retinue of the goddess Durga, consort of Shiva. They may be represented in a group of eight, or sixty -four, and typically occupy the inner wall of a circular temple enclosure facing an image of Shiva. Yoginis can be either benign or ferocious in character; traces of projecting teeth suggest that this Yogini was depicting a fearsome aspect.
Production
Madhya Pradesh, Central India.
Subject depicted
Hinduism
Bibliographic references
  • Dehejia, V.: " the Yogini Temples of India" Art International Vol. XXV No.3-4 (1982), pp. 6-28. A. Cunningham: ASI Reports Vol XIII 1882, p. 132. Guy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London, V & A Publication, 2007, p.167, pl.188. ISBN 9781851775095.
  • Haworth-Booth, Mark; Indian Sculpture: A Travelling Exhibition, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1971 No. 17
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.9-1969

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Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O24779/bust-of-a-yogini-bust-unknown/
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