Old Indian Arts

Note: Mahakala is a wrathful manifestation of Shiva Bhairava, taken up in an Esoteric Buddhist context as a fierce manifestation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara as guardian of the dharma (Buddhist law) and the sangha (community of monks and nuns). He is shown here enthroned on a lotus cushion—another supports his pendant foot—wielding a sword and trident and displaying a skull cup (kapala); his missing fourth hand likely held the flaying knife. He wears a skull diadem with radiating flames. A skull garland is slung around his waist, and snakes form his sacred cord and armbands. A kneeling couple, presumably the donors who commissioned the icon, make an offering below. A Sanskrit inscription in proto-Bengali script identifies them: it states, in part, “this is the pious gift of Dahapati.”

Source: metmuseum.org

Old Indian Arts

Ivory Plaque with Lovemaking Couple - Circa 15th-16th Century

Lovers embracing and Kissing - Sandstone Sculpture from Indian Temple - 12th Century

Yashoda with the Infant Krishna - Copper Alloy Sculpture, Chola Period, Early 12 Century

Ivory plaque showing Rama and Laksmana - India 16th-17th Century

Ivory Idol of a Couple - India 18th Century

Sculpture of God Vishnu and his Consort Goddess Laksmi - India 10th-11th Century AD

Ivory Sculpture of Lovers, Orissa India - 13th Century

The Buddha and the Devas - Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh - 3rd Century AD

Buddha and Nanda’s Visit to Heaven - Nagarjunakonda, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh - 3rd Century AD

Krishna Stealing Butter - India, 6th Century AD

Relief Sandstone Panel showing the Saptamatrika (Mother Goddesses) with One Male God - 10th Century AD

Schist Figure of a Matrika (mother goddess) with a Child - 7th Century AD

Samvara and his consort Vajravarahi - Gilt Bornze Sculpture, 13th-14th Century, Nepal

Shiva as Virabhadra - Brass Sculpture, Karnataka, 16th-17th Century

Shiva, Uma, and Their Son Skanda (Somaskandamurti) - Copper Alloy Sculpture, Chola Period, Early 11th Century

Goddess with Weapons in Her Hair - Copper Alloy Sculpture, 2nd-1st Century B.C. North India (Possibly Pataliputra, Bihar)

Plaque with Scenes from the Life of the Buddha - 12th Century Pala Period Mudstone Sculpture

Standing Male God (possibly Shiva) - 6th Century Gupta Period Sculpture

Mahakala - 11th-12th Century Pala Period Black Stone Sculpture

Buddha Preaching the First Sermon at Sarnath - 11th Century Pala Period Black Stone Sculpture

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