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Brahma

Southern Vietnam

6th–7th century

Not on view

Brahma was rarely represented in Southeast Asia before the ninth century, when he assumed an established place in the Angkorian repertoire of deities. This example from the Mekong Delta signals an early interest in venerating the Brahmanical creator god in Funan territory. Here three of Brahma’s four heads are visible, surmounted by a towering pile of matted hair, the braids neatly secured with two coils of locks. Stylistically, this sculpture has affinities with Chalukya-period sculpture of southern India and reflects the early Sastric typology of Brahma prevalent there.

cat. no. 58

Brahma, Sandstone, Southern Vietnam — Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Brahma

Date: 6th–7th century

Culture: Southern Vietnam

Medium: Sandstone

Dimensions: H. 17 11/16 in. (45 cm); W. est. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm); D. est. 7 7/8 in. (20 cm); Wt. 14 lbs (6.4 kg)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by An Giang Province Museum, Long Xuyen, Vietnam

Accession Number: SL.2.2014.1.1

The Met

Asian Art at The Met

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.