Vishnu, made of emeralds, holds his typical emblems, each made of gold: a discus in his upper right hand, the club in his upper left, and a lotus in his lower right hand. He sits cross-legged on a lotus pedestal made of spinels, nestled on the back of his mount, Garuda, shown with a crystal face, spinel torso, and turquoise wings. The intertwined bodies of nagas (serpent deities) form the bottom of this pendant; each naga holds a pearl in the offering; their faces are carved from lapis lazuli. An eleven-headed serpent hood rears over the entire ensemble.
Fun Fact
In Nepal and South India, the Hindu god Vishnu can be shown as either blue or green.
Details
- Title : Pendant with Four-armed Green Vishnu on a lotus with Nagas
- Classification : Cultural Objects/ Jewellery
- Medium : Gold set with precious and semiprecious stones
- Dimension : Overall: 7.2 x 5.8 cm (2 13/16 x 2 5/16 in.)
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal, Kathmandu Valley
- Collection : The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Credit Line : Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wade
- Status : On View 237 Himalayan
- Collection : Nepalese Art
- Department : Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Exhibition history 1 : Inaugural Exhibition. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (co-organizer) (June 6-September 20, 1916).
- Exhibition history 2 : Jewelry Techniques Past and Present. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (February 3-April 4, 1956).