Kalady: The floods in Kerala had taken many lives and property, including art forms. Strangely, the Aiyanar sculptures on the campus of Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University survived even though they were overflown as waters surged.
The sculptures, including that of two horses, one elephant and Kamadhenu, the divine bovine goddess, are still standing tall on pedestals in the garden area near the main entrance. These sculptures were made as per the traditional sculpting techniques of Andhra Pradesh.
The garden is also intact, though the varsity has incurred a loss, according to preliminary estimates, to the tune of Rs 10 crore due to floods. Several learning material and paintings were lost as the nearby Perirar river overflowed.
The Aiyanar forms were sculpted in 2015 under the supervision of noted sculptor Rangaswamy of Puthukotai in Tamil Nadu. Unlike the other sculptures which are made of clay, the Aiyanar sculptures are made of fired clay, chaff, gravel and saw dust. to give them more durability and strength.
Traditionally, Aiyanars are believed to be the guardians of a village and they are found mostly in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Big and colourful statues of Aiyanar and his companions riding horses or elephants are seen on the sides of village temples. Horse, elephant and Nandi are vehicles of Aiyanars.
