Brahma
late 900s–1000s
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
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.
- Title: Brahma
- Date Created: late 900s–1000s
- Physical Dimensions: Overall: 162.6 x 48 cm (64 x 18 7/8 in.)
- Provenance: (C. T. Loo & Co. New York, NY, sold to Mrs. George A. [Lucie Matter] Forman [c. 1883–1952] for gift to the Albright Knox Art Gallery), Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY, deaccessioned and consigned to Sotheby's, New York for sale, (Sotheby's, New York, NY, March 23, 2007, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art), The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Type: Sculpture
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/2007.155
- Medium: granite
- Fun Fact: The back of the sculpture retains the original textured surface from a pointed chisel, suggesting it was in a niche or near a wall, protected from worshippers’ touches.
- Department: Indian and Southeast Asian Art
- Culture: South India, Tamil Nadu, Chola dynasty, late 10th - early 11th century
- Credit Line: Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund, this work was accepted in honor of Stanislaw Czuma in recognition of his long service to the CMA
- Collection: Indian Art - Chola
- Accession Number: 2007.155
Get the app
Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more
