DOI Heft:
Nr. 4
DOI Artikel:Sieradzki, Wojciech: Yaksha or not Yaksha?
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18860#0148
two groups. Perhaps, such division, if any, was not rigorously obeyed at the moment of creation.
Sometimes these images are supposed to constitute the representations connected with the
pre-Aryan worship of monkeys17, which was adapted by the Aryans' religion and afterwards
(in the II half of the I millenium B.C.) monkeys would be inseparable companions of the
Bodhisattva18.
The author is of the opinion that the polarization of those views is mistake. Monkeys — the
animals living in laige numbers in the vicinity of human settelments, coexisting to some extent
and sometimes domesticated19, could and it is known they sometimes were worshipped. Hence,
the occurrence of the images of these animals should be comented on as the expression of cult
{ex-votive offerings) without negating the eventual utilitarian character of these representations
(e.g. as toys).
Future research applying the up to date methods will cast a brighter light on these enigmatic
but impressive images.
17.
18.
19.
E. J. H. Mackay, Further..., op. cil., p. 293—294.
C. Sivaramnmurti, Indian Sculpture, New Delhi, 1961, p. 24, pi. 5.
E. J. H. Mackay, Further.. , op. cit., 294 basing on Crooke, Religion and Folklore of Northern Jndia Ï, p. 85.
130
Sometimes these images are supposed to constitute the representations connected with the
pre-Aryan worship of monkeys17, which was adapted by the Aryans' religion and afterwards
(in the II half of the I millenium B.C.) monkeys would be inseparable companions of the
Bodhisattva18.
The author is of the opinion that the polarization of those views is mistake. Monkeys — the
animals living in laige numbers in the vicinity of human settelments, coexisting to some extent
and sometimes domesticated19, could and it is known they sometimes were worshipped. Hence,
the occurrence of the images of these animals should be comented on as the expression of cult
{ex-votive offerings) without negating the eventual utilitarian character of these representations
(e.g. as toys).
Future research applying the up to date methods will cast a brighter light on these enigmatic
but impressive images.
17.
18.
19.
E. J. H. Mackay, Further..., op. cil., p. 293—294.
C. Sivaramnmurti, Indian Sculpture, New Delhi, 1961, p. 24, pi. 5.
E. J. H. Mackay, Further.. , op. cit., 294 basing on Crooke, Religion and Folklore of Northern Jndia Ï, p. 85.
130