Kumbha

Kumbha
Kumbha
	The goddess Ganga shown with a kumbha (a full vase)

A kumbha (Sanskrit: कुम्भ) is a type of pottery in India. Traditionally, it is made by Kumbhars, also known as Prajapatis.

In the context of Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology, the kumbha symbolises the womb. It represents fertility, life, generative power of human beings and sustenance and is generally associated with devis, particularly Ganga.^[1]

^ Darian 2001, p. 125 Quote: The Kumbha: After the Makara, Ganga's most distinctive sculptural feature is the full vase, first appearing with the river goddess on the same Varaha cave frieze from Udaygiri. Although not common in the early stages of the Ganga image, the full vase appears more and more frequently as the Ganga theme reaches maturity.

[darian2001-p125-1] Darian 2001, p. 125 Quote: The Kumbha: After the Makara, Ganga's most distinctive sculptural feature is the full vase, first appearing with the river goddess on the same Varaha cave frieze from Udaygiri. Although not common in the early stages of the Ganga image, the full vase appears more and more frequently as the Ganga theme reaches maturity.

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