Molela Terracotta: Born From Beliefs

When you enter the village of Molela in Rajasthan, it might look like a normal hamlet surrounded by people of cultures and traditions. But as you look closer, things get more intricate and beautiful. Known for its unique terracotta work engraved on Molela plaques, this art form plays an integral role in this tiny hamlet. In this wondrous story, we will explore folk tales and legends around this unique art form.

The fascinating art of Molela Murtikala; Image Source: WordPress- Craft Village Blog

As we travel through the hills, plains, and rivers of India, we find several fascinating cultures and traditions waiting to be explored by us. One such fascinating culture arises from using terracotta to make unique sculptures, statues, and pottery that not only highlight the beautiful aspects of India but also give us a glimpse of what our ancestors left for us.

Dating back to the pre-Harappan and Harappan eras, there are numerous regions in India where this form of sculpting objects is practised, and each one has its distinct way of bringing the sculptures to life. One such famous terracotta art form comes from the small, rustic village of Molela in rural Rajasthan.

Molela, located in the Rajsamand district, appears to many as an unremarkable hamlet. This art form does not carry the usual tag of ‘India-is-a-melting-point-of-various-cultures’ but flaunts itself as an indigenous art form that has been popularized through research papers and GI tags.

Beyond the shiny and colorful world of gems and sarees that carry the rich Indian culture, pots and uniquely-carved sculptures take yet another position. Though not as colorful and shiny as other objects, the world of pots and sculptures still have survived the test of time and emerged as a unique path of art that impressed many.

The art of Molela starts with a legend of a blind potter. Long long ago, there lived a blind kumhar or potter. One day, God Devnarayan arrived in his dream and asked the potter to make a sculpture of him. But the potter replied that he wouldn’t be able to sculpt his image because he was blind.

However, Devnarayan told him to dig clay from a particular place near the river and sculpt an image from it. The deity also assured him that once he made this image, there would be a never-ending demand for this sculpting style, and people would love the art form.

True to Devnarayan’s words, the next day, when the potter woke up, he could see again with his eyes. Soon, he designed a beautiful sculpture of God Devnarayan and started worshipping the idol. This art form, later on, came to be known as Molela Pottery. It is also known locally as Murtikala owing to its religious overtones.

God Devnarayan sculpted on a Molela plaque; Image Source: MeMeraki

Since this legend surfaced, the kumhar community believes that their ancestors belonged to Abu in Rajasthan. To give respect to their ancestors, the potters first shifted to Nadol and then eventually to Molela. Though the temple of their deity is located in Nadol, the community has been living in Molela for the last several decades because of Devnarayan.

God Devnarayan is the local deity of Molela and its people who take care of the justice system and keeps a tab on the karma of the community members. Depicted as a deity with a huge mustache and seated on a gallant horse, he is the protagonist of the Devnarayan Katha that is still performed in many villages of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Earlier, the kumhar community made regular pots with clay, but their destiny changed as they began making Molela sculptures. All the successors of the blind potter began sculpting figurines of Devnarayan and other deities like the god of snake or Nagdev, Goddess Durga, and many mythical creatures.

In a way, the art form is closely linked to the folk tales and legends that surround the community. The kumhars try to bridge the gap between real and mythical worlds by bringing Molela Murtikala to life. The potters are monikered as Prajapats and Prajapatis, who make palm-sized, colorful plaques that are rectangular.

Local deities from various communities, like the Bhils, Jats, and Gujjars, are also sculpted on these rectangular slabs. Not only temples and other worshipping sites, but the fabulous pieces of Molela Murtikala also find their way into the homes, museums, and even the railway stations. The clay used to make these sculptures is not used for simple pottery items.

Lord Krishna and Mother Yashoda depicted on a Molela plaque; Image Source: India MART

Red clay from the fertile Banas river plains is used to bring the Molela figurines to life. The first step is cleaning the clay thoroughly, and the second is adding water and kneading it properly with hands and feet. To improve the texture of the clay, donkey dung is added. In the next stage, the plaques or thalas are created on which the sculpture will be made.

With the help of a sharp chisel-like tool, the face of the figurine is carved. While some plaques are standalone, others include an entire series depicting the different life stages of the deity. The Molela plaques are usually made during the winter months.

Potters don’t prefer summer months as the weather might lead to the formation of cracks on the sculpture. After the sculptures are properly carved, they are fired in a kiln at 800 degrees Celsius. A layer of red protective paint is added to the sculpture to make it look attractive and protect it from dust.

Though the Molela art form has received the GI tag, the number of artisans contributing to this field is less. The Molela hamlet consists of 150-200 families, but only 30-35 people are involved thoroughly in this art form. Artisans from previous generations earn their livelihood by selling the Molela sculptures, but the new generation is not  interested in learning this skill.

Artisans are also facing many problems in procuring the raw material as several brick factories are set up near the Banas river. Lastly, due to the fragility of the Molela figurines, these cannot be transported to faraway regions. Therefore, the sale of these objects is limited to the periphery of the village.

With such dire situations on the rise, the Molela art form might become extinct in the near future. If this happens, India will lose yet another beautiful secret that brought various local deities to life.