The Unique Scribe

Me with the Shahsana Sundari

(There is a famous and rare - perhaps the only one of it's kind - sculpture of Shila Balika/Shasana Sundari on the wall of Kamaleshwara/Ishwara Temple of Jalasingvi, Humnabad Taluka of Bidar District, Karnataka. A graceful & mythological apsara/madanika is drafting an eulogising epigraph on her patron, Vikramaditya VI. )

There exists a unique scribe on the walls of the old Chalukyan temple, with a shine,

in 'Tribhanga' she stood, rapt and apt, consistent amidst the crushing sands of time.

Despite the ubiquitous jewellery, something's amiss about this mysterious miss,

for her raised hand and outward beauty deceive her radiance inward, of a soulful bliss.

In styllish syllables, she scripts an eloquent eulogy on her proud patron,

as ignorant people steal lazy glances on the cultured maiden.

When would the world learn to admire the scribe's true talents,

without off-color remarks or sarcastic jibes aimed to further endanger the gender balance.

Underneath the grace and elegance of the learned lady,

beneath all the veneer of opulence & vanity that suits nobody,

a simple yet unique scribe's at work - like a paradox at play.

Until our minds are cleansed of perverse judgements, beauty remains a captive in toys of stone and clay!


 

Shasana Sundari/Shila Balika - the unique scribe

Maheeth V
Sunday, 08th of March, 2020 - On the eve of International Women's Day
Palakollu