Elephant Chariot Panel

Tamil Nadu

Wood

A finely detailed chariot panel of caparisoned elephant with a mahout holding a chauri (fly-whisk).

The elephant is an auspicious symbol in Indian and Southeast Asian cultures, embodying cosmic splendor and fertility. In mythology, Indra’s divine mount Airavata emerged from the ocean during its churning, linking elephants to life-giving rains. Revered in Buddhism as well, Siddhartha was conceived as a white elephant, and the welfare of elephants remained central to Indian rulers, including the Mughals.

Chariots of Tamil Nadu, locally called ter, are intricate wooden structures of monumental size. The lower portion of the chariots are completely covered with timber panels carved with a wide range of figural and animal sculptures. These friezes, which constitute the finest wooden sculptures in the region, can be viewed only during the chariot festival; for the remainder of the year the chariots are parked in shelters to protect them from the sun and rain.

Size (cms): 45(H) x 32(W) x 10(D)
Size (inches): 17.5(H) x 12.5(W) x 4(D)