A magnificent representation of Vishnu Vasudeva, supreme god, wearing the royal tiara (kirita). Vishnu can be identified by the symbols he holds in his four hands: the mace in the raised right hand, the chakra in the raised left hand, the lotus in the lowered right hand and the conch in the lowered left hand. The head of the god is surrounded by an oval halo decorated with lotus petals.

To the right of Vishnu is Lakshmi, his wife and the goddess of good fortune, holding a fly-whisk, the symbol of royalty and happiness. To his left is Sarasvati, goddess of knowledge, wisdom and the arts, who can be recognized by the vina.

Vishnu is standing on a pedestal decorated with lotus flowers. On either side of the god are two lions, standing on their hind legs and on the back of a crouching elephant. On the lower part of the stele are Garuda - the half-human, half-bird steed of the god Vishnu - and a female divinity, both worshipping the god. At the top of the stele is the kirtimukha, the mask whose role is to provide magical protection. On either side of this mask are two Apsara with flower garlands.

Vishnu is wearing a long dhoti which falls in parallel folds to his ankles. It is held at the waist by a decorated belt. We can also see the richness and finery of jewellery of unspeakable beauty on his chest, arms and ears. This magnificent stele, still in excellent condition, is admirable for its flowing and elegant composition.

From the 8th to the 12th century, the states of Bengal and Bihar produced sculpture in black and grey stone, essentially Buddhist under the Pala sovereigns (8th to 11th century), then Hindu under the reign of the Sena, of Brahman origin (11th and 12th centuries). It was specifically under the Pala and Sena reigns that the great university of Nalanda reached its peak of glory, attracting thousands of students from numerous countries to the largest religious and scientific teaching complex of its time.

For a similar piece, see the Vishnu Vasudeva, 11th-12th century, Pala period, J.W. Alsdorf collection, or consult Huntington, Susan, Leaves from the Bodhi Tree : The Art of Pâla India (8th – 12th centuries) and its International Legacy, Hong Kong, 1969.

Provenance: Private collection, Austria.

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