Standing Indra

Standing Indra

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

"Indra, King of the Gods," inscribed on the pedestal, identifies this figure, but he is also recognizable by the decorated crown and the third eye engraved on his forehead. The Vedic god Indra was incorporated into Buddhism in various ways: as one who witnesses the birth of the Buddha, as an attendant and protector of the Buddha, and as the ruler of the Trayastrimsha heaven.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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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.