The Grace Of Seated Vishnu, Contained By The Aureole

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South India is the home of bronze. This great tradition of the South reached its zenith under the patronage of the Chola dynasty rulers, as is evidenced from the contemporary sculptures produced aplenty in the region today. This gorgeous Vishnu in lalitasana is a fine example of the famed workmanship. His portrayal is replete with the highly characteristic inverted-lotus asana and an aureole carved luxuriantly with spiritual motifs. A number of aspects of the deity give away the origin of this work of art. The tall slender crown, the austere halo, the layered pedestal are features to be found in abundance in the Southern temple deities. Zoom in on the graciously proportioned hands and feet of the lord, His perfectly symmetrical torso, and the handsome sculpture of His countenance, the finesse and perfection which are the hallmark of a good sculptor.

The signature aspect of this composition is, of course, the aureole. The great number of motifs that grace it add a world of meaning to the sculpture. It is worth mentioning, the gigantic kirtimukha that seemingly looks down upon the world from above the head of Vishnu. A rather ferocious icon, kirtimukha is devoid of the lower jaw and a picture of the all-consumingly destructive nature of time. In its stead are dense ripples of gold-coloured bronze, which take on exquisite shapes and forms as the gaze of the onlooker traverses downwards. Vishnu sits in His stateliness beneath the aureole, the ample shringar and the silken dhoti becoming the stateliness of His purpose. As the cosmic deity presiding over the preservation of all creation, three of His hands carry a weapon (the goad), a conch, and the dharmachakra, while the remaining hand is raised in blessing.