Exhibit shows diversity of Indian deities
By Chung Ah-young
India boasts a rich civilization and cultural heritage that have survived with ongoing relevance even in the modern era. The power and influence of Indian culture has evolved from traditional myths surrounding Hindu deities. The nation has some 330 million to choose from.
To showcase the diverse cultural and religious aspects of Indian traditional rituals and ceremonies, the National Folk Museum of Korea will hold a special exhibition titled “Journey to India Mythology” from Aug. 9 to Sept. 19.
The exhibition is part of the museum’s efforts to introduce the cultures of other countries on behalf of multi-cultural families living in Korea since 2009.
By creating a communication channel through diverse activities the exhibition intends to offer a deeper understanding of other cultures in an interesting and accessible manner. “It is very important to introduce other cultures to Koreans as our society is becoming multicultural. Given the situation in which currently, 50,000 people from South Asian countries are living in Korea, the exhibition is very significant to narrow the cultural gap,” Lee Geon-wook, curator of the museum, said.
The exhibit consists of three parts — India and Indian Religion which introduces India and Hindu mythology; Story of Deities which explores Vedas, sculptures, masks and paintings of Hindi Gods and Goddesses; and Stories Dedicated to Deities which presents the sacred shrines, various ritual tools and wooden shrines.
Some 150 examples of Indian relics from sculptures, crafts to ritual tools related to their deities will be on display. Featuring the Hindu Trinity — Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer) — along with Surya, the chief solar deity in Hinduism, the exhibit will be a good overview for someone who doesn’t know anything about India. Particularly, Vishnu and Shiva are eagerly worshipped by many Indians as the great two deities. The three major goddesses of the Hindu religion — Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati — are the wives of the trinity deities.
Ganesha is one of the best known Hindu deities, shaped as an elephant symbolizing wealth and honor. “Ganesha might be one of the most interesting deities as it is very familiar even for Koreans. Ganesha is the most popular deity widely worshipped by Indians in these days as they believe it brings fortune and esteem,” he said.
Among other historical objects, Nataraja, a bronze sculpture of a dancing Shiva, is the main relic as it represents freedom. Also,
other items inspired by Ganesha are not to be missed as it is the most common deity found in the present Indian society. Vishnu has 10 Avatars and the Buddha in Hinduism is viewed as the ninth Avatar of Vishnu.
In the exhibition, Ramayana, an ancient Sanskrit epic, can be viewed through the paintings. Ramayana has been often produced as a televisions drama and beloved by many Indians. Ramayana depicts the duties of family relationships, portraying the ideal characteristics of the father, servant, brother, wife and king.
Also, the sacred shrines of Indian households are included in the exhibition, which depicts the religious beliefs and lives deeply rooted in Indian culture and lifestyle.
For more information, call (02) 3704-3154.