Scottish historian William Dalrymple writes about Gwalior history. Close up of Vishnu Trivikrama, the conqueror of three Worlds. Pawaya, Gupta, 5th century. Now in Gujari Mahal, #Gwalior. Also watching over all this merry-making is the Moon god Chandra, in his antelope-pulled chariot.
2nd picture: The dancing girl and her band on the left are part of the celebrations accompanying the asvamedha sacrifice, which continues in the celestial halls of heaven where apsaras and other heavenly lovelies also take the opportunity to join what look like rather Bollywoodish festivities. The dancing scene is sculpted on the lintel of a torana as part of the story of #Visnu’s victory over Bali. It shows Bali’s sacrifice, complete w yupa post, sheep, Vedic implements & Vishnu in disguise as Vamana the dwarf. On R, Vishnu Trivikrama humbles Bali w his 3 great steps.
3rd picture: The instruments of the band are all shown in incredible detail and include two types of drums, one small and tabla-like and the other larger and more like a dholak, a lute, a transverse flute and an elaborate curved harp. (Specialists please forgive my lack of precision here)
4th picture: I love this wonderful 5thC image of a courtly Gupta dancing girl and her girl-band accompanists from Pawaya near Gwalior now kept in Gujari Mahal