Under the seventy three series of its online exhibition by Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, today presented the “Mavli Mata Ki Gudi” A Gudi of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, situated in the Tribal Habitat open air exhibition of IGRMS has been presented online with its basic information and photographs and videos.
About this exhibition, Praveen Kumar Mishra, Director, IGRMS said that – In the beliefs and rituals of tribal’s of Bastar, god and goddesses are represented, not with their idols, but a representative object like doli, vimana, anga, dang, chhatra, sankal, iron nail and chair etc. All these objects can be moved from one place to another. The deities keep contact with their devotees through a medium Siraha.
Maoli Mata cho gudi is a shrine of Maoli-Mata replicated in the same size and form as one situated in Matnar village near Chitrakoot waterfall in Bastar. It consists of two huts. The outer chip stone roofed hut is erected on stone-slabs. It supports an intricate wooden frame work of roof. It houses Bhairam Deo in a vertical stone post. The mud-walled hut situated just behind it houses Maoli, a form of goddess Danteswari the presiding deity of erstwhile Bastar dynasty.
It also has its place in Matagudi of every village. She is considered to be the protector goddess of whole Bastar. The statue has a crown on its head, a shield in the right hand, a trident and a dagger in the left hand, and is shown seated on a lion.
Just beside it is the abode of Village-Deity is in the form of a triangular stone. Another thatched hut outside the fence is housed by the clan god-Anga Deo.
