Vishnu with Avatars and Attendants

Vishnu with Avatars and Attendants
India, 10th – 11th century
Sandstone
Collection of the Newark Museum. Gift of Alice A. N. Heeramaneck, 1985, 85.266

Three kneeling male devotees and one standing woman fold their hands in homage at Vishnu’s feet. Two other small, standing women offer a flower garland and gesture of respect. Larger standing male and female attendants also flank Vishnu, holding flywhisks in veneration. Vishnu is further surrounded by four of the avatars – Rama and Balarama flanking the knees, and Buddha and the equestrian avatar Kalki at left and right of the kneeling devotees, respectively. Each form exhibits lively movement that starkly contrasts the rigid, frontal form of the deity, whose immense scale represents his cosmic oversight and power and instills awe and veneration in the kneeling or prostrated worshipper.

Only the bottom portion remains of what was surely a principal icon in temple worship. Like other images of the period, the carvings would have extended up both sides of Vishnu’s grandiose form with decorative motifs arching above his head. Its evocative remnants testify to the forces of time and age upon such sacred images. This now-faceless Vishnu invites each on-looker to contemplate his or her own personal vision of deity and consider approaching Divinity with new eyes.

All photographs and videos have been provided by Entrepid Productions with support from Andrew Hair, Daniel King, and Garth Pratt.