Indian Temple Fragment of Shiva
Jaipur, Rajasthan, Northwestern India
Sandstone
13th century or before
Height 12 1/4" Width 9 1/2"
Provenance: Jim Conley, Los Angeles, CA
Private collection, Beverly Hills, CA
Masterfully sculpted from buff sandstone, this ancient temple fragment portrays the powerful male Hindu deity Shiva. His lowered left hand is positioned in the abhayamudra pose, a gesture of reassurance and safety. The fragment of a smaller hand (likely that of the goddess Parvati) remains clutched in his right hand, indicating that this sculpture was once part of a more complex temple sculpture. The general form and positioning of this sculpture, as well as the figure’s personal accoutrements,relate closely to an example currently in the collections of the Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur. That male deity is portrayed seated on an altar and a smaller goddess is reclined beside him.
The description for that sculpture states “This sculpture, made of buff sandstone, represents the mythological story of Ravana trying to lift the Kailasha mountain, while above Shiva and Parvati are sitting atop it. Ravana, a great devotee of Shiva, had been denied entry by the doorkeepers, therefore, he attempts to carry the mountain itself. His effort was thwarted by Shiva but he began 1000 years of worship to appease Shiva
Jaipur, Rajasthan, Northwestern India
Sandstone
13th century or before
Height 12 1/4" Width 9 1/2"
Provenance: Jim Conley, Los Angeles, CA
Private collection, Beverly Hills, CA
Masterfully sculpted from buff sandstone, this ancient temple fragment portrays the powerful male Hindu deity Shiva. His lowered left hand is positioned in the abhayamudra pose, a gesture of reassurance and safety. The fragment of a smaller hand (likely that of the goddess Parvati) remains clutched in his right hand, indicating that this sculpture was once part of a more complex temple sculpture. The general form and positioning of this sculpture, as well as the figure’s personal accoutrements,relate closely to an example currently in the collections of the Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur. That male deity is portrayed seated on an altar and a smaller goddess is reclined beside him.
The description for that sculpture states “This sculpture, made of buff sandstone, represents the mythological story of Ravana trying to lift the Kailasha mountain, while above Shiva and Parvati are sitting atop it. Ravana, a great devotee of Shiva, had been denied entry by the doorkeepers, therefore, he attempts to carry the mountain itself. His effort was thwarted by Shiva but he began 1000 years of worship to appease Shiva
Jaipur, Rajasthan, Northwestern India
Sandstone
13th century or before
Height 12 1/4" Width 9 1/2"
Provenance: Jim Conley, Los Angeles, CA
Private collection, Beverly Hills, CA
Masterfully sculpted from buff sandstone, this ancient temple fragment portrays the powerful male Hindu deity Shiva. His lowered left hand is positioned in the abhayamudra pose, a gesture of reassurance and safety. The fragment of a smaller hand (likely that of the goddess Parvati) remains clutched in his right hand, indicating that this sculpture was once part of a more complex temple sculpture. The general form and positioning of this sculpture, as well as the figure’s personal accoutrements,relate closely to an example currently in the collections of the Albert Hall Museum in Jaipur. That male deity is portrayed seated on an altar and a smaller goddess is reclined beside him.
The description for that sculpture states “This sculpture, made of buff sandstone, represents the mythological story of Ravana trying to lift the Kailasha mountain, while above Shiva and Parvati are sitting atop it. Ravana, a great devotee of Shiva, had been denied entry by the doorkeepers, therefore, he attempts to carry the mountain itself. His effort was thwarted by Shiva but he began 1000 years of worship to appease Shiva