Unknown Maker, Indian

This relief fragment was created to adorn a niche in the walls of a Hindu temple. The fine-grained stone, typical of the Bengali region, allowed for the carving of ornate details and precise lines. The god Vishnu is depicted with lavish jewelry and an elaborate hairstyle, the “sacred thread” falling from his left shoulder to right waist, all reminiscent of Indian royalty and the upper castes. The chakra, or wheel, symbolizes the cycle of creation and destruction; Vishnu maintains balance in the universe. He is accompanied by Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune, with a flywhisk in hand, and the river goddess Sarasvati, with a vina, a musical instrument.