A GILT COPPER FIGURE OF INDRA


NEPAL, 11TH/12TH CENTURYHimalayan Art Resources item no.61632 11.5 cm (4 1/2 in.) high
|尼泊爾 十一/十二世紀 銅鎏金因陀羅像The ancient Vedic king of the gods and dispenser of rains is still highly revered in Nepal today. Vajrapani is thought to stem from Indra, adopting Indra's weapon, the vajra. Indra was absorbed into Buddhism, personally converted by Shakyamuni in Trayastrimsha heaven, which Indra administrates, controlling one of the six realms of Buddhist rebirth. The deity can be recognized by his broad crown and posture, seated languidly in royal ease (rajasana), with his right hand casually resting on his knee. The sculpture has a distinctive reddish brown patina, and is rubbed smooth from Nepalese devotional practice. Compare with von Schroder, Indo-Tibetan Bronzes, Hong Kong, 1981, p.325, no. 84E.ProvenanceJohn Barnett, London, 2002