Queen Choladevi Before the Hermit-Sage Angiras: Page from a Dispersed Vrataraja: (King of Vratas, Rites Undertaken to Fulfill a Vow)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The subject of this painting is unusual. Queen Choladevi, whose husband had been blessed by Lakshrni, the goddess of good fortune, had not recognized the goddess when she came to her mansion in disguise. For her neglect, the queen was cursed by the deity and was given the head of a sow. She fled to the sage Angiras, who taught her the secret of the Mahalakshmi vrata, through whose power she was restored to mortal form. The story stresses the efficacy of tantric worship.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art