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Yaksha

ca. 50 BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 234
Los yakshas (espíritus masculinos de la naturaleza) son personificaciones del mundo natural. Fueron venerados como dioses menores en los panteones budista e hindú, a menudo como protectores de las riquezas de la tierra y, por ende, vinculados a la prosperidad. Este enano barrigudo con los brazos en alto sostenía un cuenco sobre la cabeza, lo cual permite identificarle como un «portador» o bharavahaka yaksha. Los paralelos estilísticos más similares aparecen en los capiteles de los pilares de la gran estupa (estructura semejante a un montículo donde se preservan objetos de veneración) budista de Sanchi, cerca de Bhopal. Es muy probable que este yaksha actuara de criado a la entrada de la estupa; su cuenco servía para recibir donaciones de los devotos.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Título: Yaksha
  • Periodo: Periodo Shunga
  • Fecha: ca. 50 a. C.
  • Geografía: India, Madhya Pradesh
  • Material: Piedra arenisca
  • Dimensiones: a. 88,9 cm
  • Crédito: Donación de Jeffrey B. Soref, en honor de Martin Lerner, 1988
  • Número de inventario: 1988.354
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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