Sculpture

In a landmark act of cultural restitution, the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art announced the return of three historic South Indian bronze sculptures to the Government of India. The decision followed extensive provenance research that confirmed the sculptures were removed from temple contexts in Tamil Nadu without lawful export authorization. Three South Indian bronze sculptures are returned from the Smithsonian to India. Understand their sacred role, artistic legacy, and the future of repatriated heritage.

What makes this legacy truly exceptional its architectural grandeur, and its human transmission. Generation after generation of artisans have preserved complex knowledge of stone behavior, iconographic law, tool discipline, and symbolic expression often without written manuals, relying instead on oral teaching and embodied practice. To understand Odisha stone carving is to understand how art, religion, geology, and human resilience can merge into a single enduring tradition one that continues to shape the spiritual and artistic landscape of India even in the present century. Discover our curated guides on Konark, Bhubaneswar’s temple architecture, and authentic GI-certified Odisha handicrafts to experience this living tradition beyond the written word.

A prabhavali is the ornamental halo arch that encircles deities, symbolising light and cosmic energy. Emerging from early siraschakra halos, it became a key feature of temple art and bronze sculpture. The prabhavali frames the deity, amplifies its aura, supports ritual lighting, and shapes spiritual focus for devotees. Used in temples and homes, it is crafted in metal or wood to complement the murti.