Collection record · Objects & craft
Brahma-Shiva
The collection record classifies this work as sculpture. It is dated 900s. Recorded culture or place: South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola dynasty, late 10th - early 11th century.
Explore the object recordOBJECT RECORD
A closer look at the details.
- Museum title
- Brahma-Shiva
- Date
- 900s
- Culture / origin
- South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola dynasty, late 10th - early 11th century
- Materials and technique
- granite
- Dimensions
- Overall: 162.6 x 48 cm (64 x 18 7/8 in.)
- Artist / maker
- Not specified by the museum
- Museum
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Accession number
- 2007.155
FROM THE MUSEUM
In the museum’s words
The following description is reproduced from the Cleveland Museum of Art’s original English record.
In the Hindu pantheon Brahma is in charge of carrying out the work of creation. In this tour-de-force of South Indian temple sculpture, he is in a special regal aspect, with the only elements of his typical priestly appearance being the prayer beads and the matted dreadlocks piled on his head.
Four arms connote superhuman power, and four heads convey the idea that his creative activities spread in all four directions. His upper right hand enjoins freedom from fear, and the lower holds a lotus bud associated with birth and the process of creation. His lowered left hand is held in the gift-giving gesture, suggestive of the gift of creation he will bestow upon the world.
FOLLOW THE SOURCE
Text and image sources
The Cleveland Museum of Art · Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, this work was accepted in honor of Stanislaw Czuma in recognition of his long service to the CMA · CC0
The summary is based on public collection data. Refer to the museum’s latest record for the title, date and attribution.
Open the complete museum record View the open-access policyTHE VISITOR BOOK
What caught your eye?
Opening the visitor book…
