Museums in Assam
Assam State Museum, Guwahati
Assam State Museum in Guwahati is a rich repository of antiquities that highlight
the diversity of the state s cultural traditions. In the early 1900s, a small
dedicated group of antiquarians formed a society to study, document and research
the cultural patterns of Assam. The artefacts they collected formed the nucleus
of the museum. On view are a large number of stone sculpture, metal, wood and
terracotta objects, textiles, coins, manuscripts and tribal artefacts. The rare
stone images date to the region's original rulers, the legendary Kamarupas,
who were in power till the 13th century.
Among the striking bronzes on view are a number of small but perfectly formed
images, a
mukhalinga, bells and a conch shell. The largest and most beautiful
icon depicts Indra, the Vedic war god. The deity is seen riding his
vahana,
flanked by two female chowri bearers who stand on a
padma. Bedecked with
Jewels his right hand demonstrates the
varadahasta mudra while his left
hand is held in the
abhaya mudra. Below the
pitha is a male deity
in the
anjalihasta pose while above, an ornate
chatra crowns the
image.
Among the four bronze plates on view is a bust of Mahishasura. Portrayed in
high relief, a human head appears to have sprung from the neck of a buffalo.
Scholars believe that this plaque symbolically represents the
devi.
Assam State Museum
Guwahati 781 001
Timings: Summer : 10.00 am to 4.30 pm; Winter: 9.30 am to 4.00 pm
Closed on Mondays and second Saturdays. and government holidays.
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