CLASSICAL INDIAN ART | LIVE AUCTION, MUMBAI (09 MARCH 2017)

134-135 / 176

134
68
VAMANA
BENGAL, CIRCA 11TH CENTURY
Phyllite
25.75 in (65.6 cm) high
Rs 15,00,000 ‒ 18,00,000
$ 22,390 - 26,870
NON‒EXPORTABLE
REGISTERED ANTIQUITY
Vamana, the 5th avatar of Vishnu
in which he assumes the form
of a dwarf, is rarely worshipped
as a separate deity, and there are
no extant temples known that
are devoted to him. In this large,
rare sculpture, Vamana is shown
decked in jewellery. In his hands, he
bears the mace, conch and discus,
which are attributes conventionally
associated with Vishnu. To his left,
Saraswati, the goddess of learning, is
seen holding a veena.
Vishnu assumes the avatar o
Vamana to keep the power of th
asuras in check at the behest of
the devas. Bali, an asura king know
for his benevolence, had assume
disproportionate powers and wa
perceived as a threat by the devas
Approaching Bali as Vamana, Vishn
requested that he grant him just the
land that he could cover in thre
strides. Considering the dwarf‒sized
Vamana, the king happily agreed
Vamana grew in size and with hi
first stride, he covered the entir
earth. His second stride covere
the heavens. Not knowing where t
place his foot for a third stride, h
turned to Bali, who offered him hi
own head, and Vishnu pushed him
into the netherworld with the third
step. Impressed by Bali’s humility,
Vishnu granted him a boon: that
he would be allowed to visit his
kingdom every year, and that he
would be reborn as the ruler of the
heavens.
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Kolkata