Vishnu

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This heroic representation of Vishnu wearing an elaborate crown stands on a plinth depicting the donor and his family flanking an auspicious vase of plenty (purnaghata). The dedicatory inscription identifies the donor as a minister of state, names the king he served, Simhadeva, and gives the place and date of dedication. The date coincides with Vishnu’s awakening after his annual four-month slumber, marking the end of the monsoon— an auspicious day to make a religious donation.

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