This image shows Indra, king of the gods’ realm, and worshipped by Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains alike. We can identify him by his horizontal third eye and his magnificent clothing, including a high crown and other jewelry. Indra sits with one knee raised in a position known as “royal ease” (rajalila asana). His thumb and index finger are pressed together in a gesture that shows he is teaching, (vitarka mudra). This image of Indra, with its lustrous gilded copper surface and scattering of semiprecious stones, is more than just an exquisitely decorated sculpture of a deity. It was made to house sacred relics, which were once sealed within its inner cavity. Its splendid outward form was created specifically to protect and honor the holy artifacts held inside.
Details
- Title : Indra, Lord of Storms and King of the Gods' Realm
- Year : c. 1200
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Mercury-gilded copper alloy with spinel rubies, rock crystal, and turquoise
- Dimension : 15 7/8 × 9 3/4 × 8 1/2 inches (40.3 × 24.8 × 21.6 cm)
- Accession No : 1994-148-596
- Country/ Geo-location : Made in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, Asia
- Culture : Hinduism and Buddhism
- Collection : Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Credit Line : Stella Kramrisch Collection, 1994
- Status : On Display
- Curatorial Department : South Asian Art