Restituted in November 2022 This work of art has been removed from the Museum's permanent collection. Learn more about The Met's collecting practices.
Vishnu Flanked by Lakshmi and Garuda
Not on view
In early Nepalese art, triads were favored in both Hindu and Buddhist imagery. This stela depicts Vishnu in his four-armed form, displaying, in raised hands, his principal weapons—a discus and a club. Attending him are his consort, the goddess Lakshmi, and the eagle Garuda, his celestial vehicle, represented in anthropomorphic form. Vishnu stands on a raised platform decorated with a stylized lotus plant and a flower cartouche, while Lakshmi is on a lotus pedestal and Garuda is on tiered rocks, representing his mountain abode. Each deity is surrounded by a pearl-and-flame aureole, as is the entire ensemble.
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