Kaumodaki

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Statue of Vishnu carrying the Kaumodaki in his lower left arm

Kaumodaki (

Hindu deity Vishnu.[2] Vishnu is often depicted holding the Kaumodaki in one of his four hands; his other attributes are the chakra, the conch and the lotus. The gada is also found in the iconography of some of Vishnu's avatars
.

The name, 'Kaumodak' first appears in the

Hindu epic Mahabharata, where it is associated with Vishnu's avatar, Krishna. The gada is depicted in images of Vishnu since c. 200 BCE. While initially unadorned, the size and shape of Kaumodaki vary in depictions. More elaborate design features like flutes
and segments were added in depictions of Vishnu's gada.

Though the weapon may be depicted as an inanimate gada, Kaumodaki sometimes appears personified as a woman known as Gadadevi or Gadanari in sculptures of Vishnu. In depictions that use this version, Vishnu rests one of his hands on her head, while she herself holds the gada, is seen emerging from it or has the gada carved on her head/crown.

The gada, regarded as one of the oldest and strongest weapons, is a symbol of Vishnu's shakti. Various texts discuss the symbolism of Kaumodaki in Vishnu's iconography.

Etymology

The etymology of, 'Kaumodaki' is unclear. According to a popular etymology, Kaumodaki derives its name from the Sanskrit word kumuda, the blue water-lily or the blue lotus (Nymphaea nouchali).[3][4] Another theory suggests that the mace may derive its name from the epithet of Vishnu, Kumodaka or vice versa. The literal synonym of Kaumodaki, kaumudi is interpreted as "joy on the earth".[4] Based on the Vishnu Purana, Alain Daniélou translates Kaumodaki as "stupefier of the mind".[5]

Iconography

Mathura museum

Vishnu is usually depicted as

Sudarshana Chakra, the Padma and the Kaumodaki.[3] A popular epithet of Vishnu is Shankha-chakra-gada-pani, "he who holds in his hands shankha, chakra, and gada".[6] Generally, the gada is held in the lower (natural) left hand of Vishnu in contemporary images. The gada sometimes also appears in the depictions of Vishnu's avatars Matsya, Kurma, Varaha and Narasimha
.

The gada appears as an attribute in the oldest known sculpture of Vishnu (from Malhar, Chhattisgarh), dated to c. 200 BCE.[3] One of the earliest images of Vishnu date to the Kushan period (30–375 CE) found around Mathura, the gada does not appear in a stylised design as in later depictions, but the mace is a simple "round top-heavy rod" held in his upper (back) right hand and lifted above the shoulders.[7] In another Kushan sculpture, the gada is depicted as a long rod which is almost the height of Vishnu and is held in his upper right hand. It is depicted similar to a long pestle (musala).[8] A similar image found in Jhusi as well as early images from Western India depict Vishnu resting his upper right hand on the mace or holding the mace in this hand.[7] Gupta images continue the trend of having upper (back) right hand resting on or holding the gada.[9] The gada started being depicted in other arms. Twenty-four configurations of Vishnu images are noted, where the order of the four attributes is changed.[10]

While the hand holding the gada changed, the design of the weapon transformed too. In late medieval art, especially

Cholas carve Kaumodaki thinner, but is ridged and segmented.[8]

Kaumodaki as Gadadevi, personified as a woman

The Vishnudharmottara Purana describes the iconography of Vishnu. While the lotus and shankha are held in the upper hands, the lower hands rest on two dwarf figures: the personified gada and chakra. The gada personified as a slim-waisted woman, holds a fly-whisk (chamara or chowry) in her hands and is adorned with ornaments, with Vishnu's right hand resting on her head; chakra stands as a man on Vishnu's left.[11][12] The personified weapons known as Ayudhapurusha emerge in Gupta era (320–550 CE) sculptures. The personified Kaumodaki is also known as Gada-Devi (the suffix devi means goddess) or Gada-nari ("gada-woman"). Since the Sanskrit word gada is feminine, gada is regarded as a woman.[13] A Gupta Vishnu in Udayagiri Caves depicts Vishnu accompanied by Gadadevi and the personified chakra.[9] Gadadevi often appears in Vishnu images from Kashmir, including Vishnu's four-headed form Vaikuntha Chaturmurti. She holds a chamara and looks in adoration towards her master, whose hand rests on her head. She wears a crown or has an elaborate hairstyle. Apart from a lower garment, she might wear a blouse or have a bare torso. She is depicted emerging from the gada.[13]

Gadadevi may be depicted as a dwarf or as a normal human as in the Sheshashayi Vishnu panel of the Gupta

anjali mudra posture) with the gada depicted on the head as part of the crown or the weapon mark on her forehead, as in Chola era bronzes of the gada.[15][16][17]

Development and symbolism

Vishnu holds the Kaumodaki in his lower right hand; 5th century.

The mace or club is one of the oldest types of weapons.

Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata (existing in the 5th to 4th century BCE) respectively. Both the epics narrate various characters – gods, men and demons alike – using the gada.[3][18]

In the philosophical meaning expounded by the Vishnu-worshipping

Vaishnava sect, Kaumodaki symbolizes "the intellect, the power of knowledge and the power of time".[3] While explaining the symbolism of four attributes in Vishnu's hands, the Gopala Tapani Upanishad says that the gada – which represents primordial knowledge – is held in the lower left hand, which denotes "individual existence".[19] The Vishnu Purana calls the gada the power of knowledge. Kaumodaki is said to "intoxicate" the mind.[5]

According to the Vishnudharmottara Purana, Kaumodaki represents Vishnu's wife Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and beauty.[13] The Krishna Upanishad equates the gada to the goddess Kali, "the power of time". The text further says that like the invincible Time, the mace is the destroyer of all opponents.[3][5]

Another interpretation suggests that the Kaumodaki symbolizes the life-force (

illusion by his gada.[13]

Literature

Kaumodaki personified as a woman stands with a gada (left, standing) with Chakra-man (right), while goddess Lakshmi, Vishnu's wife, seated presses his feet.

In the Mahabharata, Kaumodaki is described to sound like the lightning and was capable of slaying many

divine arrows. The duo defeat Indra and Agni burns down the forest, pacing way for the establishment of the Pandava capital Indraprastha.[21]

The Mahabharata describes Vishnu holding a gada and a chakra, possibly indicating two-armed images of Vishnu.

The Duta-Vakya ("envoy's message") of the Sanskrit playwright

Raghuvamsa of Kalidasa mentions dwarf-like ayudhapurushas including Vishnu's mace.[23]

In the Garuda Purana, the Kaumodaki is mentioned in the Vishnu Panjaram:[25]

Take up thy club Kaumodaki, O lotus-navelled deity, salutation unto thee.

— Garuda Purana, Chapter 13

Notes

  1. .
  2. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2015-08-01). "Kaumodaki, Kaumodakī: 12 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ .
  5. ^ .
  6. ^ .
  7. ^ a b Desai p. 8
  8. ^ a b Sivaramamurti p. 135
  9. ^ a b Desai p. 9
  10. ^ Desai pp. 10–14
  11. ^ Rao pp. 289–90
  12. ^ Desai pp. 6–7
  13. ^ .
  14. ^ C. Sivaramamurti pp. 128–9
  15. ^ a b Anna L. Dallapiccola, ayudhapurusha or shastradevata. (2002). In Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend, Thames & Hudson.
  16. ^ a b Rao pp. 288–9
  17. ^ a b C. Sivaramamurti pp. 130–1
  18. ^ Desai p. 6
  19. ^ .
  20. .
  21. .
  22. ^ Desai p. 7
  23. ^ .
  24. .
  25. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2015-04-12). "The prayer of Vishnu Panjaram [Chapter XIII]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-07-14.

References

  • Dr. Kalpana Desai (31 December 2013). Iconography of Visnu. Abhinav Publications. GGKEY:GSELHU3JH6D.
  • Rao, T. A. Gopinatha (1914). Elements of Hindu iconography. Vol. 1: Part I. Madras: Law Printing House.
  • JSTOR 3248789
    .