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Three Hindu Gods
10th Century -12th Century22 3/8 x 15 3/4 x 9 3/8 in. (56.8 x 40 x 23.8 cm)
Indian artist
India
Object Type:
Sculpture
Medium and Support:
Red sandstone
Credit Line:
R. T. Miller Fund
Accession Number:
1961.12
Location: Currently on view
The identity of the three Hindu gods in this sculpture remains a mystery. The most common three-headed sculpture in Hindu art is of Brahma-Shiva-Vishnu. The cobras around the heads are sometimes associated with Brahma, the Creator; Shiva, the Destroyer; and Vishnu, the Preserver. The monkey on the left side of the sculpture could refer to Prince Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu and the protagonist of The Ramayana, one of India's great national epic poems, because an army of monkeys and bears helped him defeat the demon king Ravana. One missing visual element, however, suggests that the sculpture does not contain the god Shiva, who can always be identified by the presence of a third eye.
[Gallery label text, 2009]
[Gallery label text, 2009]
Provenance
William H. Wolff, New York (dealer); purchased from him by the Gallery in 1961
Keywords
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Additional Images
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Exhibition List
This object was included in the following exhibitions:
- The Art of India 4/7/1961 - 4/30/1961
Bibliography
This object has the following bibliographic references:
- Article Scope: Reproduction only. Susan Dodge Peters, ed. Memorial Art Gallery: An Introduction to the Collection. New York, New York: Memorial Art Gallery in association with Hudson Hills Press, 1988.
- Article Scope: Reproduction only. Rochester Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester Handbook. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press, 1961.
- Article Scope: Mention. Elizabeth Brayer. Magnum Opus: The Story of the Memorial Art Gallery, 1913-1988. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 1988.
- Article Scope: Entry and reproduction. The Art of India. Rochester, NY: Memorial Art Gallery, 1961.
Portfolio List
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