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2. Indra Nepal 13th century Copper alloy Height: 8 3⁄8 in. (21.2 cm.) |
Majestically seated in the posture of royal ease (maharajalila), Indra exudes an air of dignity and grace. The weight of his lithe frame is supported entirely by his left hand while his right hand drapes languidly across a bent right knee. Cast by a skilled artist, the deity’s youthful and naturalistic body is beautifully proportioned. Folds of fabric unfurl beneath his feet indicating the presence of a dhoti, and a simple yet impressive array of jewels decorates his otherwise unadorned torso. The broad collar necklace, belt, armbands and distinctive shield-like crown with beaded border [1] would at one time all have been inlaid with large semi-precious gems attesting to the deity’s important status as the king of gods. Suspended from his left shoulder, a beaded upavita, or sacred cord, falls gracefully across the divinity’s torso, and framing his face a pair of disk-shaped earrings hang prominently against cascades of wavy hair. Although he does not bear a vajra, Indra’s characteristic attribute, the presence of a horizontal third eye identifies him as the god.[2] His outward gaze is direct, and his delicate bow-shaped mouth bears a benign expression. Indra’s importance has waned in India since the era of ancient Vedic religion (c. 1500–100 B.C.E.) when he was considered to be the most powerful god of the Hindu pantheon. However, the deity remains a highly important figure in Nepal. There, both Buddhists and Hindus revere Indra as the king of the gods, and a variety of imagery devoted to his worship reflects his great significance within the culture.[3] Conceived as the god of rains, a protective deity of directions, and an infinite cosmic force, Indra is a favorite subject of local artists. Unprecedented stylistically elsewhere, images such as the present example portray a purely Newari portrait of the god. Provenance: Carter Burden Collection, New York (acquired in the 1960s) [1] See Pal (1985), p. 119. The style of Indra’s crown in the present example is exclusive to Newari representations of the deity. [2] Ibid. Derived from Vedic literature and symbolized by the horizontal third eye, Indra is said to possess one thousand eyes that represent his cosmic omniscience. [3] See Pal (2003), p. 44. In Nepal, an important festival with processions and ceremonies devoted to the god Indra continues to be held annually. |