Shaivite Saint

Shaivite Saint

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Cults of saints are prominent in South Indian Hinduism. Saints who follow Shiva are called nayanars, and those of Vishnu, alvars. In India, people of great spiritual depth were often worshiped; and gradually cults—or whole religions—developed around them. The indentity of this saint is unclear. His hands are raised to his chest in anjalimudra (the gesture of adoration). He has no other distinguishing attributes except his matted hair, which marks him as a devotee of Shiva.

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.