What feature of the Indian sculptures often perplexed European scholars and made them appear grotesque?

The presence of multiple arms and heads

It's worth recalling that in the 19th century, European scholars were initially perplexed by the sculptures depicting gods and goddesses in India. These depictions often featured figures with multiple arms, heads, or combinations of human and animal forms, which appeared grotesque to the scholars.

In their attempt to comprehend these enigmatic images, these early scholars resorted to a comparative approach. They contrasted Indian sculptures with those of ancient Greece, a realm more familiar to them. While they sometimes deemed early Indian sculpture as inferior to the Greek masterpieces, their enthusiasm surged when they stumbled upon Buddha and Bodhisattva images seemingly inspired by Greek models. These discoveries predominantly surfaced in the northwest region, notably in cities like Taxila and Peshawar, where Indo-Greek rulers had established dominions in the 2nd century BCE.