Stele with Vishnu, His Consorts, His Avatars, and Other Dieties
11th century
Brooklyn Museum photograph
Object Label
This icon depicts Vishnu flanked by his consorts, avatars, and other deities. Not all ten of the avatars are present. Striding Varaha the boar is at the top left, with the man-lion Narasimha below him, while the top two figures on the right appear to be Balarama with his plow and Rama with his bow and arrow. The other small figures include the god Brahma (portly and carrying a squarebowled spoon at the bottom left), two Vishnus, and another, unidentified deity. How to interpret this mix of avatars, additional Vishnu images, and Brahma is unclear.
Caption
Stele with Vishnu, His Consorts, His Avatars, and Other Dieties, 11th century. Schist, 48 x 20 3/4 x 5 in., 192 lb. (121.9 x 52.7 x 12.7 cm, 87.09kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. David R. Nalin, 1991.244. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Collection
Collection
Title
Stele with Vishnu, His Consorts, His Avatars, and Other Dieties
Date
11th century
Period
Pala Period
Geography
Possible place made: Bangladesh, India, Possible place made: Eastern region, West Bengal, India
Medium
Schist
Classification
Dimensions
48 x 20 3/4 x 5 in., 192 lb. (121.9 x 52.7 x 12.7 cm, 87.09kg)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. David R. Nalin
Accession Number
1991.244
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