San Diego Museum of Art - Shiva as Lord of Music (Vinadhara Dakshinamurti)

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Bookmark: https://collection.sdmart.org/objects-1/info/12706

Shiva as Lord of Music (Vinadhara Dakshinamurti)

Creation date: 6th century

Creation place: India

Other Information

Type: Sandstone Sculpture

Medium and Support: Sandstone

Credit Line: Edwin Binney 3rd Collection

Accession Number: 1990.144

State/Province: Gujarat

Dimensions: 16 3/4 in. x 13 3/4 in. x 4 13/16 in. (42.55 cm x 34.93 cm x 12.22 cm)

Currently on view

Label Copy

04/14/2017 Diana Chou
This sculpture is the earliest known representation of the god Shiva in his incarnation as Lord of Music, the deity who marks the cosmic cycles of time with his music. Shiva’s four arms indicate his superhuman power, and the halo encircling his head further emphasizes his divinity.
With his lower two arms Shiva plays the vina, a traditional Indian stringed instrument, and the graceful thrust and counterthrust of his body follows from Indian dance poses. His gaze is directed downward and he smiles gently as he is lost in the joy of sound.
Last Updated: 11/2/2022

Exhibition

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

The Ideal Image: The Gupta Sculptural Tradition and It's Influence Asia House Gallery , 9/21/1978 - 12/21/1978

Manifestations of Shiva Philadelphia Museum of Art , 3/29/1981 - 5/30/1982

Temple, Palace, Mosque: Southern Asian & Persian Art , 1/2/2010 - 2/1/2011

Temple Palace and Mosque Rotations San Diego Museum of Art , 8/16/2010 - 00/00/00

Temple, Palace, Mosque: Temple Arts for Sacred Spaces of Southern Asia San Diego Museum of Art , 6/23/2012 - 1/6/2013

Arts of South and Southeast Asia 2nd to 16th Century , 6/16/2014 - 12/14/2014

Arts of South and Southeast Asia 2nd - 6th century The San Diego Museum of Art , 12/20/2014 - 00/00/00

Arts of South and Southeast Asia The San Diego Museum of Art , 1/20/2017 - 00/00/00

Bibliography

This object has the following bibliographic references:

Stella Kramrisch. Manifestations of Shiva Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1981
Page Number: 24 no. 22, Figure Number: 22

Pratapaditya Pal. The Ideal Image: Asia Society, Inc.. New York, New York, 1978
Page Number: 27

Pratapaditya Pal. The Ideal Image: Asia Society, Inc.. New York, New York, 1978
Page Number: 75 no. 22, Figure Number: 22

Dr. Caron Smith. San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Art. San Diego, California, 2003
Page Number: 69, Figure Number: 69

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South and Southeast Asia

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