Artwork Page for Brahma-Shiva

Details / Information for Brahma-Shiva

Brahma-Shiva

900s

South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola dynasty, late 10th - early 11th century

Medium
granite
Measurements
Overall: 162.6 x 48 cm (64 x 18 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, this work was accepted in honor of Stanislaw Czuma in recognition of his long service to the CMA 2007.155
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.
Location
244 Indian and Southeast Asian
Print
?

Did You Know?

The back of the sculpture retains the original textured surface from a pointed chisel, suggesting it was in a niche or near a wall, protected from worshippers’ touches.

Description

In the Hindu pantheon Brahma is in charge of carrying out the work of creation. In this tour-de-force of South Indian temple sculpture, he is in a special regal aspect, with the only elements of his typical priestly appearance being the prayer beads and the matted dreadlocks piled on his head.

Four arms connote superhuman power, and four heads convey the idea that his creative activities spread in all four directions. His upper right hand enjoins freedom from fear, and the lower holds a lotus bud associated with birth and the process of creation. His lowered left hand is held in the gift-giving gesture, suggestive of the gift of creation he will bestow upon the world.
A rock sculpture depicts Brahma, a man wearing jewelry, a headdress, and sitting on a pedestal. He has four heads and four arms. His back right hand is raised to the side with his palm facing out, his front right hand is raised toward the front and is holding a flower. His back left hand is raised to the side and holds beads, and his front left hand is resting on his left leg with his palm facing up.

Brahma-Shiva

900s

South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola dynasty, late 10th - early 11th century

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

Shop the CMA Store

Shop More Art

Contact Us

The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please fill out the appropriate request form linked below:

Update or Correct Artwork Information

Imagery or Rights for Non-Open-Access Artworks

Report a Website Issue

Further Questions About This Artwork