Aalas Kanya – Sursundari of Rajarani Temple

Sursundari Information:

Sursundaris are the beautiful lady sculptures in the temples. Some call these beautiful ladies Apsaras, Kanika, Ganika, Maiden, Shilambhajika, etc. The names given by authors or websites are not always true. For example, Apsaras played a major role in Hindu mythology. Apsaras like Menaka, and Rambha played major characters and were reasons for many events. They were not just damsels or beauty pieces.

Sursundari is the most appropriate description and name for such sculptures which represent the eternal beauty of the lady and offer a cultural glimpse.

Sculpture Information:

This panel of sculptures presents multiple divine sursundaris. All the ladies are standing on a lotus pedestal in various mudra (position).

Aalas Kanya with her hands upwards looks prominent of the ladies. Aalas means laziness. Aalas Kanya literally means a lazy lady. Maybe she is tired of waiting for someone or her lover. Even while expressing her tiredness, she looks romantic and beautiful.

In Bharatanatyam (an Indian Classical Dance form), such pose is called as “Vipralabdha” where a heroin is holding her hands upwards.

While leaning her body towards one side, she is expressing her alasya (laziness).

Aalas Kanya can be confused with the Torana type of Sursundari sometimes.

The one on her left (from the sculpture’s point of view) is Shubgamini. The one who removes thorns from her feet.

Rajarani temple dates back to the 1100th Century CE and is the best example of Kalinga Architecture (Kalinga Panchratha Style). It is built in a Rekha Deul format.