Vishnu on Garuda
Indian
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Object Label
The Hindu god Vishnu resides in a heavenly realm, but when humankind requires his help, he descends to earth to save the day, riding on the back of a part-man, part-eagle creature named Garuda. Although Vishnu’s blue color is not explained in Hindu scriptures, several Hindu pundits have suggested that his color reflects his home above the clouds. Vishnu is also closely associated with the primordial ocean that existed before the gods created land and living creatures.
Caption
Indian. Vishnu on Garuda, ca. 1725 or earlier. Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper, sheet: 8 11/16 x 5 3/4 in. (22.1 x 14.6 cm) image: 7 5/16 x 4 7/8 in. (18.6 x 12.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., 86.227.140. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Culture
Title
Vishnu on Garuda
Date
ca. 1725 or earlier
Geography
Place made: Punjab Hills, India
Medium
Opaque watercolor, silver, and gold on paper
Classification
Dimensions
sheet: 8 11/16 x 5 3/4 in. (22.1 x 14.6 cm) image: 7 5/16 x 4 7/8 in. (18.6 x 12.4 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc.
Accession Number
86.227.140
Frequent Art Questions
Why is the color blue particularly important for representing gods in Hindu art ? Why not yellow or green? Are other colors associated with something else? Cheers- Claudia from Germany.
Many Hindu gods are blue, including Vishnu in several of his forms. This is the color he has traditionally been described as in Hindu texts. Some scholars believe that the color is a reference to his home above the clouds. His blue skin could also reference a primordial ocean similarly linked textually to Vishnu, which existed before the gods are said to have created land and the creatures who live on it. Some of the other blue deities you see in Hinduism are actually earthly avatars of Vishnu, and are blue because they are part of the same god. However, this is not true of all blue Hindu gods.Thanks a lot, this service is great!Do you know of any other religions aside from Hinduism where a certain color is connected to certain gods?
In most polytheistic religions (and monotheistic religions, for that matter) there is a level of association between deities (or religious figures) and colors. Colors tend to carry a lot of symbolism throughout history. In Infinite Blue, there is a small section dedicated to Blue Gods of Egypt and several images of the Madonna wearing her characteristic blue mantle. On the third floor you can see more Egyptian gods in their associated colors. You can also see more images of the Madonna clothed in blue.Thanks!
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