Rare Muruga idol adorns Chicago museum

Chennai: Tamil Nadu abounds in numerous images and temples for Lord Muruga. But a unique idol of Lord Karthikeya, with six faces, which has not been seen anywhere here, is among the numerous rare idols adorning the Art Institute of Chicago.

The granite idol with Lord Karthikeya, the Lord of War, seated gracefully on a peacock, was taken from Madanapalle in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. This 12th-century image was gifted by Sylvain S. Wyler to the museum in 1962. The six faces of the intricately carved image are placed in a circular manner, facing six directions.

“Besides, there is a statue of Buddha and other Indian artifacts at the museum,” says K. Moortheeswari, deputy superintending archaeologist, Fort Museum, ASI.

Moortheeswari, who had visited the museum as per an agreement between the Union culture ministry and Art Institute of Chicago to observe best practices for museums as part of Swami Vivekana­nda’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations, recently, says the German U boat displayed at the science and Industry museum there, backed by a multimedia presentation, could be a source of inspiration for the TN maritime museum coming up at Mahabalipuram with the decommissioned INS Vagli submarine.

Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the World Parliament of Religions on September 11, 1893, is still held in high esteem in Chicago, the senior official says.

Turning to the Fort Museum, she said efforts are on to establish a Victoria kitchen gallery and a library on Indian freedom fighters. “The talking cannon at the kids' gallery was explained to the audience in Chicago and the concept was appreciated. The cannon, which recounts its origin and contribution during war, dramatically winds up the speech saying children and elders now admire it because it is living in the museum, educating people on the importance of ahimsa,” Moorthee­swari says.