Hindu saint Sambandar

Unknown (Indian)

Item type:

sculpture

Date of creation:

12th-13th century

Height:

43.2 cm  (17 in.)

Width:

25.4 cm  (10 in.)

Depth:

15.2 cm  (6 in.)

Technique / Medium:

bronze

Place of creation:

Tamil Nādu (Bhārat)

School:

Chola

Description

From museum website:
Sambandar is one of sixty-three saints dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. According to legend, the three-year-old Sambandar became hungry while he was visiting a temple and was fed milk by a statue depicting Shiva and Parvati. Immediately, he became their devotee and spent the rest of his life dancing and singing their praises. Sambandar’s poems were influential in reviving Tamil-language verses, known as “musical poems” because they were often set to music.

People as subjects

Campantar (active 7th century)

Iconclass

48C7551
singer without accompaniment
43C91
one person dancing alone

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

Notes

Chola period (ca. 850–1275)

RIdIM record id

6161