Detail of a Mask of Vishnu as Para Vasudeva in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, September 2010

Mask of Vishnu as Para Vasudeva

Date: 5th century

Culture: India (Jammu and Kashmir)

Medium: Bronze

Dimensions: H. 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm); W. 12 1/2 in. (31.8 cm); D. 5 in. (12.7 cm)

Classification: Sculpture

Credit Line: Gift of Donald and Polly Bruckmann, 2004

Accession Number: 2004.177

Description:

The Pancharatra sect of Vaishnavism believes in one supreme, transcendental being named Narayana whose greatest manifestation is called Para Vasudeva. The lateral animal heads—a boar and a lion (here missing)—refer to cosmic emanations (vyuhas) from Para Vasudeva. Such masks may have adorned wooden images that were elaborately clothed and could be paraded during festivals.

Text from: www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/6002...