Abstract
Goddess Gangamma/ Gangamma Talli is a regional deity worshipped predominantly in southern India. She is often depicted in paintings and sculptures as a protector, a fertility symbol and is strongly ingrained in the region’s pastoral and agricultural traditions. The various artistic depictions of Gangamma—from folk art to sculptures found in temples—highlight her pivotal position in the Deccan’s cultural milieu. This paper traces the journey of the iconography in relation to Gangamma through different artistic traditions from different political scenarios in the Deccan region of India. Additionally, it analyzes the Gangamma artefacts housed in international museums and compares them to contemporary and regional representations of the goddess. This paper uses a variety of primary sources, interviews with communities that worship the goddess as a Kula Devata, and primary photographs since I am a native of this region. There are also citations to academic journals, local press, and publications by international scholars.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life
KEYWORDS
South India, Social Art, Hindu Deity, Regional, Ancestral, Folk, Mother
