Vaikuntha Vishnu flanked by Gada Devi and Chakra purush on
either side.
Detailed Description
This magnificent and ornate bronze of Vishnu Vaikuntha from the Kashmir Valley, displays a four-headed Vishnu standing in tribhanga pose on a rectangular pedestal. Vishnu is flanked by his personified attributes, Gada Devi to the right and Chakra-purusa to the left, both are bearing flywhisks. A tiny image of Goddess Earth is portrayed between Vishnu's feet. The four heads of Vishnu are those of a placid human being in the front, a lion and boar on the sides and a ferocious being at the back. Adorned heavily with ornaments and a crown, deity places on set of hands upon the heads of Gada Devi and Chakrapurusa whereas the other set of hands holds the lotus and conch. Braided hair locks are spread over the shoulders and part of the hair is gathered up in a conical pile on top of the head. The dhoti seems to be tied around the thighs in a very stylistic manner. The eyes are inlaid with silver.
The pedestal is provided with a spout to drain off fluids poured ritually over the image. The images of three-faced Vishnu of the Gupta period were enlarged by an addition of a fourth head (Kapila-Rudra) to the rare side during the 8th century A.D. in Kashmir. The introduction of Kapila, the founder of the Sankhya system of philosophy, who is also regarded as an avatara of Vishnu, is a matter of controversy.
The flower garland around the image is a typical feature of Kashmir art. A similar image of Vishnu Vaikuntha is housed in the Lakshmi Narayana temple in Chamba.