Carousel Dog

Maharashtra/Karnataka

Wood polychromed

An attractive folk carousel animal in the shape of a dog with original polychroming.

According to Hindu mythology, the dog was originally created by Brahma who then asked him to find and serve the greatest creature on earth. The dog, understandably, settled upon the elephant as his master. However, when he was rebuked for barking at night, lest he attract the attention of a lion, he realised he had made the wrong choice and decided to serve the lion instead. But the lion in turn complained that his bark would attract a hunter. Finally the dog found its right master, the hunter, who abided his barking without fear of a more powerful creature.