Stone sculptures of goddesses on the boats from Goa, west coast of India

Abstract

Goa situated on the central west coast of India, has served as an overseas trading post since the early historic times. An onshore exploration along the river Mhadei in the north Goa on the west coast of India yielded 13 boat motifs of different goddess panels. A few sculptures reflect influence of folk art traditions in Goa. On the basis of lion figures in a few sculptured panels indicate that these boat motifs must have been engraved during the Kadamba period (10 th - 13 th) when Goa witnessed the highest creativity in art and architecture. There are two types of boats on which the panels are engraved, such as canoe and planked cargo types of vessels.