Under the museum series ‘Exhibit of the Month’ of Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, a traditional object is displayed in the appearance for a whole month. The exhibit for the month of October- ‘Navagunjara’ a wooden effigy with highly intricate motifs from Orissa is on display in the indoor exhibition building – Veethi Sankul.
The 'exhibit of the month' has been inaugurated by Jitendra Agrawal, IFS (PCCF-Wildlife, MP Government). He explained the local mythological tales behind the idea of Navagunjara and said that nature has nine strengths and Navagunjara is accumulated form of all nine powers.
This exhibit of the month has been compiled by Arun Kiro (Assistant Curator). Prior to inauguration, Kiro explained the exhibit and mythological story behind it. He said, “In the Oriya Mahabharata episode Arujna voluntarily sought his 12 years of exile from Draupadi for his reluctant entry in her bedroom and went to Manibhadra Mountain.
In order to examine Arjuna lord Krishna appeared as Navagunjara, has the head, neck, waist, hump, tail legs of different animals and a human hand holding a lotus. As a natural reaction Arjuna took his bow to attack the monster with a social gesture. But suddenly he noticed the lotus in the monster’s hand and lowered his bow. Krishna then appears to him and says that the Navagunjara is another of his forms, similar to the Viratsvarupa of the Bhagwad Gita”.
He further explained the symbolic representations of the nine animals as The head of Rooster- awakening others around, could mean leadership quality too, the neck of a peacock- pride or beauty, the waist of lion- symbol of majesty, the hump of bull- purity or devotion, the tail of serpent- Balance, Symbol of Kundaliny, Balanced energies, the leg of an elephant- symbol of stability, leg of a tiger- Symbol of speed, leg of an antelope- Symbol of gentleness, hand of a human holding a lotus- symbol of spiritual Quest.
On this occasion huge audience was present.