Is the Devi-bhagavata the Source of the Deogarh Relief of Nara-Narayana?
Summary
Responding to a previous claim that the Deogarh temple relief of the sages Nara and Narayana derives from the Devi‑bhagavata Purana, this article re‑examines the evidence. The author summarises the Devi‑bhagavata narrative in which Dharma’s sons Nara and Narayana perform penance at Badarikasrama; Indra, fearing their austerities, sends wild animals, storms and finally Cupid and celestial nymphs to distract them. He notes that art historians date the Deogarh relief to the late fifth or early sixth century, whereas most scholars place the composition of the Devi‑bhagavata much later, around the eighth century. Using textual comparison, he argues that the relief’s imagery better matches accounts in older sources like the Mahabharata and that pushing back the Devi‑bhagavata’s date to support the identification is unwarranted. The sculptor may have drawn on multiple traditions or lost stories. The article cautions against dating texts solely on iconographic parallels and emphasises the need for careful correlation of literary and artistic evidence.
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Conclusion
The article challenges the view that the Deogarh relief draws on the Devi‑bhagavata, pointing out chronological and narrative inconsistencies. It suggests that the sculptor likely relied on earlier epic or puranic traditions and that using the relief to date the Devi‑bhagavata risks misinterpretation. Cross‑disciplinary analysis is essential when linking art with literature.