Surya thumbnail 1
Surya thumbnail 2
On display

Surya

Figure Group
12th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The figurative carving of Surya who dominates the stele, his consort and attendants are carved almost in the round against a triangular-headed back-slab with decorative curled foliated and plain mouldings in high and low relief. The god stands beneath a kirttimukha mask in a frontal, unflexed position holding, (although the left hand is missing) two sinuous tendrils of fully-opened lotus blossoms, which are held aloft by two small heavenly, figures (apsarasas). He wears a crown upon his head and a diaphanous robe over which he wears elaborate jewellery, including a belt, earrings, bracelets and necklace with long strands of pearls rippling diagonally across his body. His sword lies beside his left leg and he is wearing boots. The small female figure who stands in front of his legs is probably his principal consort, Prabha (brightness), while his charioteer, Aruna, is depicted beneath her in a truncated form upon a double lotus pediment supported on a stepped plinth, from under which spring his seven horses. Two similar attendant bearded figures with matted locks, potbellies and pearl jewellery stand in a tribanga position holding batons at the outer edge of the sculpture. Next to them are two smaller female attendants in three-quarter pose who appear to step forward with their chauri whisks held above their heads. Beneath the left hand male figure stands the diminutive figure of a female archer dispelling darkness: her companion on the other side is now missing.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSurya (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved black basalt
Brief description
Surya, The Sun God, Black basalt, Pala period, Bihar, Eastern India, 12th century.
Physical description
The figurative carving of Surya who dominates the stele, his consort and attendants are carved almost in the round against a triangular-headed back-slab with decorative curled foliated and plain mouldings in high and low relief. The god stands beneath a kirttimukha mask in a frontal, unflexed position holding, (although the left hand is missing) two sinuous tendrils of fully-opened lotus blossoms, which are held aloft by two small heavenly, figures (apsarasas). He wears a crown upon his head and a diaphanous robe over which he wears elaborate jewellery, including a belt, earrings, bracelets and necklace with long strands of pearls rippling diagonally across his body. His sword lies beside his left leg and he is wearing boots. The small female figure who stands in front of his legs is probably his principal consort, Prabha (brightness), while his charioteer, Aruna, is depicted beneath her in a truncated form upon a double lotus pediment supported on a stepped plinth, from under which spring his seven horses. Two similar attendant bearded figures with matted locks, potbellies and pearl jewellery stand in a tribanga position holding batons at the outer edge of the sculpture. Next to them are two smaller female attendants in three-quarter pose who appear to step forward with their chauri whisks held above their heads. Beneath the left hand male figure stands the diminutive figure of a female archer dispelling darkness: her companion on the other side is now missing.
Dimensions
  • Height: 167cm
  • Width: 84.3cm
  • Depth: 46cm
Style
Gallery label
(06/06/2011)
Surya

1100–1200
Pala period


The origins of Hinduism and some of its deities may be traced
back over 3000 years to the Rig Veda, the earliest Indian text. One
of these deities is Surya, the Sun God, who is here represented
standing on a chariot drawn by seven horses. At Surya’s feet stands
his consort Prabha, and beneath her his charioteer, Aruna. Surya
wears high boots, reflecting his Central Asian origins, and holds
lotus blossoms.

Black basalt
Eastern India (Rajmahal Hills, Bihar)


Museum no. 929(IS)

(1988)
SURYA
Black basalt
From the Rajmahal Hills, Bihar
Eastern India
Pala period, 12th century

Surya, the Sun God, is represented riding his chariot drawn by seven horses, to be seen issuing from the base mouldings. At his feet stands his consort Prabha, and beneath her Surya's charioteer, Aruna. Worship of the sun in an anthropomorphic form was probably introduced into India from ancient Iran. In medieval Hinduism Surya was sometimes identified with Vishnu, whose origins appear to be as a sun deity, the memory of which is preserved in his flaming wheel (cakra) and his vehicle the sun bird Garuda.

929(IS)
Credit line
Transferred from the India Museum in 1879.
Object history
Surya, the Sun God, standing erect and holding lotus blossoms.
Historical context
Surya, the Sun God, is represented riding his chariot drawn by seven horses, to be seen issuing from the base mouldings. At his feet stands his consort Prabha, and beneath her Surya's charioteer, Aruna. Worship of the sun in an anthropomorphic form was probably introduced to India from ancient Iran. In medieval Hinduism Surya was sometimes identified with Vishnu, whose origins appear to be as a sun deity, the memory of which is preserved in his flaming wheel (cakra) and his vehicle, the sun bird Garuda.
Production
Rajmahal Hills, Bihar, India
Subject depicted
Bibliographic references
  • The art of India and Pakistan, a commemorative catalogue of the exhibition held at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1947-8. Edited by Sir Leigh Ashton. London: Faber and Faber, [1950] p. 61, cat. no. 275
  • Arts of Bengal : the heritage of Bangladesh and eastern India : an exhibition organized by the Whitechapel Art Gallery in collaboration with the Victoria and Albert Museum : 9 November-30 December 1979, Whitechapel Art Gallery ..., 12 January-17 February 1980, Manchester City Art Gallery ... . [London]: Whitechapel Art Gallery, [1979] Number: 085488047X (pbk.) : fig.22, p.28
Collection
Accession number
929(IS)

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 14, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest