{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O66638"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O66638/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU8877/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AU8877/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AU8877","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O66638/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O66638","accessionNumber":"IS.68-1986","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[{"title":"Camunda","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The goddess Camunda epitomises all that is terrific and horrifying in the Hindu vision. She is the terrifying aspect of the female element and is independently represented as an aspect of the supreme female deity Durga, and as one of the seven mothers (saptamatrikas) where she is seen as the consort of Siva in his wild ascetic form of Bhairava. Camunda is represented as an emaciated old woman of dark complexion, her skeletal figure adorned with garlands of skulls and snakes, laughing hideously. In this terracotta Chamunda has a terrifying countenance, capturing remarkably the savage mood of her destructive nature. Much detail is lost from this figure, including the ‘signature’ scorpion that usually adorns her breast.    \r\n\r\nCamunda became an important figure in the sakta cults in which female aspects of deities became the focus of worship in their own right. The worship of Camunda appears to have become prominent by the late Gupta period and it is to this era that this terracotta may be attributed. Terracotta was a favoured material for temple relief decoration, usually placed on the external walls of the sanctuary. Camunda had a secure place alongside Durga, of whom she is a manifestation, as seen in the rock-cut terraces at the 8th century Kailasa temple at Ellora.","physicalDescription":"The goddess Camunda epitomises all that is terrific and horrifying in the Hindu vision. She is the terrifying aspect of the female element and is independently represented as an aspect of the supreme female deity, Durga, and as one of the seven mothers (matrikas) where she is seen as the consort of Siva in his wild ascetic form of Bhairava. Camunda is represented as an emaciated old woman, her skeletal figure adorned with garlands of skulls and snakes, laughing hideously. In this terracotta Chamunda has a terrifying countenance, capturing remarkably the savage mood of her dark character. Camunda became an important figure in the sakta cults in which female aspects of deities became the focus of worship in their own right. The worship of Camunda appears to have become prominant by the late Gupta and early medieval period and it is to this period that this terracotta may be attributed.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"terracotta","id":"AAT10669"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Terracotta","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AU8877"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES374217"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Bust","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"India","id":"x29790"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"north"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 6th century","earliest":"0495-01-01","latest":"0603-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"35.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"23","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"13","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Camunda, terracotta, Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh, north India, circa 6th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London, V & A Publication, 2007, p.163, pl.185.\r\nISBN 9781851775095.\r\n"},{"reference":{"text":"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","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.113, Cat.73","free":""}],"production":"Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh, north India","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.68-1986"],"accessionNumberNum":"68","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1986,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LM9957","2019LN4221","2019LT7251","2019LU3164"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-11","recordCreationDate":"2002-07-11","availableToBook":true}}