Yakshas Phases Analysis

The second phase and the third phase of the iconographical development of Yaksha both took place during the Satavahana-Kushana Phase, which is from the first century BC to the second century AD, and it kept on going till the end of fourth century AD. Since the two phases happened in the same broad historical period, it might be useful to discuss them in the same section together. The style of the second phase is the dwarf-like, monstrous type that are commonly found on the railing-pillars of stupa as atlantes, while the style of the third phase is the fluid, more graceful and elegant type that are generally seen on the gates to a shrine or a temple. Different from the previous phase, these two phase both incorporate old tradition and new convention. For the second phase, it is the combination of of the old massiveness in volume and the new subordination in status; for the third phase, it is the combination of the old subordination in status and the new gentleness in spirit. One can speculate such assumption through examining their iconographical representation which has undergone a great shift from displaying massive physiques to exhibiting both burly, peculiar figure forms and relatively
Though they are usually unidentifiable because there were no labels, there were inscriptions that showed that they are the subjects of worships. However, they have indeed lost their prestigious status of high-deities and their superior importance in iconographical representation, proved by the reduced size of their statues. Nevertheless, there was shown a great variety of poses and attributions that has never been developed before. Nudity also begun to be expressed through the uncovered genitalia, perhaps it was “… ‘due to the nature of these deities symbolising ‘the auspicious emblem of vegetative