Sambandar (Figure) thumbnail 1
Sambandar (Figure) thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
South Asian Sculpture, Room 47b

Sambandar (Figure)

mid 11th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This refined figure represents Sambandar, one of the 63 Shaivite saints or Nayanmars of Tamil Nadu. Sambandar was born in the late 7th century at Sirkali, near Chidambaram. As a child, Sambandar devoted himself to the worship of Lord Shiva. Here he is depicted as a child standing in a relaxed pose and singing hymns in praise of Shiva. Characteristically, the index finger of his raised hand is pointing heavenwards, a gesture of devotion he first made as an infant.

Sambandar's hair is cropped and neatly dressed in delicate curls. He wears a broad necklace, bracelets, and anklets or padasaras on his feet. He has extended earlobes but does not wear any ear ornaments. Sambandar is naked except for the channavira type of harness that is draped around his hips.

The veneration of saints had become a popular feature of Hindu worship in South India during the Pallava (ca. 300 - 888 A.D.) and Chola (ca.850-1267 A.D.) periods. Sculptures of the saints were installed for veneration and regularly accompanied those of divinities in temple processions. They have retained this position of honour to the present day.

This sculpture was reportedly excavated in Tirunelveli (Tinnevelly) District, Tamil Nadu. It then entered the collection of Lord Ampthill, who was the Governor of Madras (Chennai) from 1900 -1906.

Sambandar stands on a circular lotus pedestal which has holes that allowed it to be secured during processional use.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Copper alloy
Brief description
This copper alloy sculpture of Sambandar standing was produced during the mid-11th century in Pandinadu, south India.
Physical description
This refined figure represents Sambandar, one of the sixty-three Shaivite saints of Tamil Nadu. He is depicted here as a boy standing in the thrice-bent or tribhanga pose. Sambandar appears to be in the act of singing, the index finger of his right hand is pointed as if he is articulating the hymn that he recites and sings. He is naked except for the channavira-type of harness that is worn across his hips. In terms of jewellery, he wears a broad necklace, bracelets, and padasaras on his feet. He has extended earlobes, however does not wear any ear ornaments. His hair is cropped and is neatly dressed in delicate curls.

Sambandar is seen making his characteristic gesture, which is the raising of his index finger. As an infant, he first pointed his index finger to Shiva and Parvati. The veneration of saints had become a popular feature of Hindu worship in South India by the Chola period (850-1279), when this image was cast. Sculptures of the saints were regularly installed for veneration alongside those of divinities and continue to retain this place of honor to the present day.

Sambandar stands on a circular lotus pedestal, which has holes designed for processional carrying.
Dimensions
  • Height: 43.2cm
  • Diameter: 18cm
Style
Gallery label
8. The Poet-Saint Sambandar (Campantar) 1000–1100 Chola period Sambandar, a devotee of the god Shiva, lived around 600– 700. As a child, when left by his parents at the temple tank, he was fed with milk by Shiva’s consort Parvati. When his parents asked who had fed him, he pointed upward. He later composed hymns in Tamil and proselytised, becoming one of the 63 Shaivite poet-saints. Copper alloy Southern India (Tamil Nadu) Reportedly found at Tirunelveli Bequeathed by Rt-Hon. Lord Ampthill GCSI, GCIE, Governor of Madras 1900–6 Museum no. IM.75-1935(06/06/2011)
Credit line
Bequeathed by Lady Ampthill, in memory of Lord Ampthill.
Object history
This sculpture of Sambandar as a child was acquired by a senior colonial officer in the early decades of the twentieth century. It was reportedly excavated in Tinnevelly District, Tamil Nadu, and then entered the collection of Lord Ampthill, who was the governor of Madras between 1900-1906. Lord Ampthill lent the sculpture for the Festival of Empire exhibition that was held at Crystal Palace in 1911. Finally, in 1935 it was bequeathed to the Museum by Lord Ampthill's widow in his memory.
Production
Reportedly it was Tirunelveli (Tinnevelly) District in Pandinadu, south India.
Subject depicted
Summary
This refined figure represents Sambandar, one of the 63 Shaivite saints or Nayanmars of Tamil Nadu. Sambandar was born in the late 7th century at Sirkali, near Chidambaram. As a child, Sambandar devoted himself to the worship of Lord Shiva. Here he is depicted as a child standing in a relaxed pose and singing hymns in praise of Shiva. Characteristically, the index finger of his raised hand is pointing heavenwards, a gesture of devotion he first made as an infant.

Sambandar's hair is cropped and neatly dressed in delicate curls. He wears a broad necklace, bracelets, and anklets or padasaras on his feet. He has extended earlobes but does not wear any ear ornaments. Sambandar is naked except for the channavira type of harness that is draped around his hips.

The veneration of saints had become a popular feature of Hindu worship in South India during the Pallava (ca. 300 - 888 A.D.) and Chola (ca.850-1267 A.D.) periods. Sculptures of the saints were installed for veneration and regularly accompanied those of divinities in temple processions. They have retained this position of honour to the present day.

This sculpture was reportedly excavated in Tirunelveli (Tinnevelly) District, Tamil Nadu. It then entered the collection of Lord Ampthill, who was the Governor of Madras (Chennai) from 1900 -1906.

Sambandar stands on a circular lotus pedestal which has holes that allowed it to be secured during processional use.
Bibliographic references
  • L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació "La Caixa" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació "la Caixa", c2007 Number: 9788476649466 p.205, Cat.161
  • Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London: V&A Publications, 1999.
  • E.B.Havell, Eleven Plates Representing Works of Indian Sculpture Chiefly in English Collections, India Society, London, 1911, plate IV, Exhibited at the festival of Empire Exhibition held at the Crystal Palace, 1911.
  • Reproduced: c.Kar, Indian Metal Sculpture, Tiranti, 1952, pl 28
  • For iconography see Gravely & Ramachandran, Catalogue of the South Indian Metal Images in the Madras Government Museum, 1932 PP 15 and 134
  • Dehejia, Vidya. The Sensuous and the Sacred: Chola Bronzes from South India. American Federation of Arts, New York, 2002. Cat. 27, pp. 27.
Collection
Accession number
IM.75-1935

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Record createdJuly 5, 2001
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