Vishnu Accompanied by Lakshmi and Sarasvati

12th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 238

Vishnu stands in perfect symmetry (samapada), the protector of cosmic order. In an iconographic convention unique to medieval Bengal, he is accompanied by the goddesses Lakshmi, holding a fly-whisk (camara) and lotus (padma), and Sarasvati, playing a vina, rather than by his wives Sri Devi and Bhu Devi. He is also closely associated with Priti, the earth goddess, who often appears between his feet. The goddesses in turn are flanked by two miniature figures, the male personifications of Vishnu’s weapons, the conch (sankha) and the discus (cakra). Vishnu himself is four armed and displays his principal attributes, the discus, conch, club (gada), and lotus (padma), and he wears both a sacred cord (upavita) and a long garland (vanamala), which hangs to his knees. The richly elaborated backplate features mythical animals and celestial celebrants presided over by a protective kirtimukha face.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

References

Title: Vishnu Accompanied by Lakshmi and Sarasvati
Period: Pala period
Date: 12th century
Culture: Bangladesh
Medium: Black phyllite
Dimensions: H. 47 in. (119.4 cm); W. 25 in. (63.5 cm); D. 9 in. (22.9 cm)
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Gift of Emily M. Goldman, 1991
Object Number: 1991.406
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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Model of the Mahabodhi Temple, Quartz-muscovite-chlorite-talc phyllite, India, Bihar — Model of the Mahabodhi Temple
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