Description Karnataka (South India) brass alloy A rare brass figure of a caparisoned camel carrying a howdah. The Hirkarrah camel was capable of travelling a considerable distance in the course of the day and was considered to be more useful for general purposes than the elephant. Figures of camels in Maharashtra and Karnataka are associated with the god Khandoba (Shiva). However, the horse is the ‘vahana’ commonly associated with Khandoba – the camel is rarely seen. Sometimes camel figures are to be found without a rider. Although camels were used extensively in the Rajasthan deserts to carry trade goods, etc., camel figures from this region are relatively rare. The primary function of the vahana or vehicle was to provide transport through the cosmos for the deity, although in some cases the strength and fearsome power of the animal were used to combat evil forces. This was especially true of Durga on her vahana, the lion. Size (cms): 27(H) x 14(W) x 8.5(D) Size (inches): 10.5(H) x 5.5(W) x 3.5(D)
