Vishnu at the Asian Art Museum.

Vishnu is the god of Preservation, the great maintainer who often appears in various incarnations (avatars) to provide salvation for humanity.

Sculpture Information:

The Sculpture was made in the eastern India-Bangladesh region in the period of the Pala and Sena kings (approx. 750–1225). Most such sculptures are of fine-grained dark grey or black stone that can be and often is, carved with small sharp details.

The Vishnu sculpture depicts the Hindu god Vishnu, attended by two consorts, Lakshmi (lower left) and Sarasvati (lower right ). Here Vishnu appears as a kingly god, standing erect on a double lotus pedestal. Lakshmi is the goddess of beauty and good fortune. Sarasvati is the goddess of learning, music, and poetry. Vishnu is accompanied by his vehicle, the bird Garuda, seen here beneath Lakshmi as a bird-like human with a hooked nose and small wings.

Vishnu here holds his usual club, war discus, and conch shell. Immediately next to him are much smaller representations of his wives, and beyond them are even smaller personifications of his conch shell and war discus wearing these objects in their headdresses. At the upper right and left, celestials fly in to offer garlands to Vishnu.

Vishnu is adorned with an elaborate crown and jewellery, including a necklace, earrings, armbands and a girdle. The long garland flowing in front of his body and crossing at the knees is called a mala.

Lakshmi is the usual consort (or female aspect or partner) of Vishnu and is recognized by the fly whisk and lotus. The lotus is associated with life-giving waters and abundance. Sarasvati is often seen on her own, or with Brahma, and can be identified by the musical instrument she carries, a Veena. In this sculpture, both female figures stand on lotus pedestals in a three-bend posture (bending at the waist, hips and knees), which gives the figures a graceful appearance.