Brooklyn Museum: Asian Art: Vishnu's Battle with the Rakshashas

Vishnu's Battle with the Rakshashas

Vishnu, the Hindu Preserver of the Universe, rises on his eagle mount, Garuda, shown in anthropomorphic form with his wings outspread. Vishnu is four-armed (his right arms are now missing); he holds a bow in his upper left hand and he raises a conch to his lips with his lower left hand. An attendant, who also holds a bow in his outstretched arm, accompanies the deity. The presence of the bow and conch may indicate that this panel depicts a specific episode in the Uttarakanda section of the Ramayana epic, in which Vishnu battles with the rakshashas (demons). The demons are not visible in this narrative panel, but the text tells us that Vishnu disperses his adversaries with his arrows, using his conch to strike awe and terror as he rides on Garuda. The Ramayana, or Story of Rama, was a popular subject for terracotta sculptures made to decorate the exteriors of brick temples in the Gupta period.

The region around the city of Mathura was a major source for both stone and terracotta sculpture in the fifth century. This panel has the typical rounded facial features of the region's sculpture, and the curled hair, which would have been represented with snail-shell-like spirals in stone, is more quickly depicted in clay with stamped circles. Brick temple architecture and clay sculpture fell out of favor soon after the Gupta period, with only the eastern region of Bengal continuing the tradition in later centuries.

Medium: Red terracotta relief
Place Made: Uttar Pradesh, India
Dates: 5th century
Period: Gupta Period
Dimensions: 12 1/4 x 14 3/4 x 4 1/2 in. (31.1 x 37.5 x 11.4 cm)
Collections: Asian Art
Museum Location: This item is on view in Asian Galleries, 2nd Floor
Accession Number: 73.124
Credit Line: Gift of Dr. Bertram H. Schaffner
Image: Overall, 73.124_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

Catalogue Description: In a partially damaged relief tile, the Hindu god Vishnu descends from the heavens to do battle, riding the winged man-eagle Garuda. The god once had four arms; both of his right arms are now void. In his left hands he holds an archer's bow and he lifts a conch shell to his mouth, preparing to blow it like a horn. Below him is a smaller attendant holding a bow. The tile is void on the viewer's left. From Accession Card: Vishnu, the Hindu preserver of the universe, rides here upon his eagle mount, Garuda, shown in anthropomorphic form with widespread wings. Vishnu is four-armed and holds a bow in his upper left hand and a conch to his lips with his lower left; the two right hands are now missing. An attendant, who also has a bow in his outstretched arm, is at the diety's left. The Brooklyn panel is crafted in the regional style of Mathura, particularly in the modeling of the figures and in the Gupta-style curled hair, here articulated by stamped circles over the wig-like headdresses and by the circular punch marks over the wing and in the lower right corner. As in the other Gupta terracotta reliefs, the hands are summarily modelled, but the heads are fully rendered, with arched brows, pierced eyes, and structured cheekbones - all of which lend expression to the group. Condition: losses at left, so right arms of two left figures are void. Part of Vishnu's headdress is also lost. Chip from upper right corner.

Collections: Asian Art: Vishnu's Battle with the Rakshashas