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Content Provider | Indian Culture |
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Organization | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai |
Spatial Coverage | Gujarat |
Temporal Coverage | 11th Century CE |
Description | Historical Significance :- The first image of a Vaikuntha Chaturmurti is said to be of the pre-Kushan period, belonging to the 2nd century BC, which was found in Bhita, located in the district of Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. Since then the images of the Vaikuntha Chaturmurti have been made under nearly all schools of art in India. A complete Chaturmukh has four faces. The one in front is the human face depicting Vishnu, the one on the right is the lion face, and on the left is the boar face. At the back is Kapila or the fierce face. Further, the image has four hands holding the conch-shell, the disc, the club, and the lotus and is mounted on Garuda, the eagle, which is the mount of Vishnu. Cultural Significance :- The traditions of the marble sculpture of Gujarat in Western India grew tremendously during the medieval age. These are seen in the profusion of intricately carved sculptures which decorate the Jain temples at Mt. Abu, Palitana and Girnar. Beautiful images of the four-armed Vishnu were also made during this period. These images had all the characteristic attributes of Vishnu such as the mace, the discus, the lotus and the conch shell. The weapons are again shown as personified attendant figures on the base. On either side are decorative motifs and the miniature image of Brahma and Siva within rectangular niches. Artistic Significance :- This is the head of the Vaikuntha Chaturmurti made of marble. The middle head is a smiling human face depicting Vishnu. The face to his right is in the form of a lion (Narasimha) and the one to his left is in the form of a boar (Varaha). The animal heads are the theriomorphic (animal forms of a deity) forms of the incarnations of Vishnu. The middle head is richly decorated with jewels. Vishnu is depicted with elongated earlobes and is wearing earrings. The nose though has been damaged. He is also wearing a tall head-gear which looks like an elaborate triple-crested crown. The eyes are closed and the facial expression is one of peace. Spiritual Significance :- Vaishnavism developed its own theological doctrine to explain the nature of the Supreme. The lion and boar faces of the idols of Vishnu are representations of his incarnations as Narasimha and Varaha respectively. However, according to some, they represent cosmic emanations (vyuhas) of Vishnu. The concept of vyuha (which means ‘placing apart’ or ‘an orderly arrangement’) attempts to outline the fundamental nature of the supreme God as well as the relationship between God and his personal manifestations. The supreme power makes itself manifest in a series of four successive emanations (chaturvyuha). The first is Vasudeva, or the deity which dwells inside. He is the fountainhead of all the other three emanations. The seated lion panel to the right of Vasudeva, combining anthropomorphic (animals depicted as humans) and theriomorphic elements, is identified as Samkarshana, or the second vyuha. The reverse full figure is the third emanation known as Pradyumna, and the boar panel is identified as the fourth emanation, called Aniruddha. The Pancharatra sect of Vaisnavism thinks of the vyuhas as the representation of the powers of Vishnu such as courage, knowledge and valour. |
File Format | JPG / JPEG |
Language | English |
Publisher | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya |
Access Restriction | Open |
Subject Keyword | Vaishnavism The Pancharatra Marble Sculpture Vaikuntha Chaturmurti |
Content Type | Image |
Resource Type | Photograph |
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