Devi, the manifest form of primeval energy, in whatever character, is the presiding deity of tantra-sadhana. Most of the tantrika experiments have been made with this Devi form or that but hardly ever with a male deity. The male in tantra-sadhana is basically the sadhaka, the practiser, who accomplishes his goals by successfully invoking the devi. Lord Shiva, the Lord of Devi, as Bhairava, and Vishnu, incarnated as swine, tortoise or as hayabadan, that is, with a horse's head, have also been invoked in tantra-sadhana for accomplishing some very ambitious goals. The tantra-sadhana with Vishnu's deity forms aims at obtaining usually the riches and prosperity for it is Vishnu who has at his command depths of oceans, the store houses of all riches.
In the Vishnu-yantra here the artist has represented Vishnu by portraying some of his significant and known attributes. The figure of tortoise in the circle on the bottom indicates Vishnu's Kurmavatara. The artist has rendered half of the figure in pinkish gold to denote his association with Shri, or Lakshmi, the riches and prosperity. Its other half is ocean blue-black, the acclaimed complexion of Vishnu. The main deity figure has a complexion representing the colours of ocean and sky, Vishnu's known body complexion, and a head which is a mix of the heads of a swine and a horse, the other forms of Vishnu's incarnations. Garuda, the great bird, the vehicle of Vishnu, has been represented by its wings appended with the deity figure to indicate that the Garuda is very much the part of his being. His fire-like orange costume and a Brahmin like white sash in hand are by every indication Vaishnava attributes.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.
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