Vishnu A high
relief sculpture depicting a four-armed iconic form of Vishnu standing
in samapadasthanaka (feet planted together). He holds the gadha (mace)
budding with foliage in his upper right hand while his lower right hand
forms varadamudra (the granting of boons). His upper left hand is now
missing but would probably have held a cakra (disc, symbol of absolute
completeness), and the lower left hand holds a conch. He wears a highly
decorative conical crown, elaborate jewellery and is embellished with
a long floral garland. A lotus halo frames his head, to the right of
which can be seen a diminutive figure of Varaha (an incarnation of Vishnu).
Comparable example: Desai, V. N. and Mason, D: Gods Guardians and Lovers, Temple Sculptures from North India A.D. 700-1200, New York, 1993, p. 262, fig 70. |
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