Hindu deities are often depicted as half male and half female to express their all-encompassing greatness, which transcends all conventional dualities. This image combines the god Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi into a single form known as Lakshminarayana. The deity’s left side has a woman’s breast, wears a woman’s earring, and holds a brimming pot, a mirror, and other attributes associated with Lakshmi. Its right side has a flat chest, wears a man’s earring, and holds a mace, a discus, and other attributes of Vishnu.
Details
- Title : Durga
- Year : 15th century
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Gilded copper alloy and gemstones
- Dimension : Overall: 4 3/8 × 4 × 2 in. (11.11 × 10.16 × 5.08 cm)
- Accession No : Object Number: 68.8.29
- Country/ Geo-location : NEPAL
- Collection : Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
- Credit Line : Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Gift of Paul Mellon
- Status : Location: G327 - South Asian Galleries