Medium: Stone
Geograhical Locations:
Dates:10th–11th century
Dimensions: 6 5/8 x 6 1/2 x 1 1/8 in. (16.8 x 16.5 x 2.9 cm)
Collections:
Accession Number: 2021.1.5
Catalogue Description: Vishnupatta. Two-sided devotional object, carved in black stone in low relief. On one side the primary design is a lotus with the ten avatars of the Hindu god Vishnu, each standing in a different petal. A lotus and central knob protrude from the center. On the other side a seated deity, presumably Vishnu, is surrounded by a geometric frame with standing consorts in niches at either side, an image of Lakshmi being lustrated by elephants above, and small kneeling devotees at the bottom. Each side can be read as a rudimentary mandala, but neither the ritual context in which these objects were used, nor the prayers that would have been recited during use, is certain. Similar objects exist in metal.