Virabhadra shrine
Figure
1800-1875 (made)
1800-1875 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Cast brass figure of Virabhadra, a form of Siva, who created him as his henchman in his fight with the deity Daksha, the goat-headed figure who stands on the left (proper) of Virabhadra. Siva's wife, Sati, a daughter of Daksha, stands on his right (proper).
A five-piece free-standing cast brass shrine with three figures, a base and arch. The central four-armed figure of Virabhadra holds a bow and arrow in his back hands plus a sword and rectangular shield in his front hands. To either side of him, about half his size. stand his consort, Uma (to his left), the goat-headed Daksha (to his right). They fit into separate slots on a typical engraved, tiered South Indian base, with the arch (topped by a kirtimukha) fitting behind them. The figures fit rather loosely but the five parts appear to belong together . Such freestanding shrines are far less common than cast or beaten Virabhadra plaques. Brass colour, little wear, reeasonble rather than high quality.
A five-piece free-standing cast brass shrine with three figures, a base and arch. The central four-armed figure of Virabhadra holds a bow and arrow in his back hands plus a sword and rectangular shield in his front hands. To either side of him, about half his size. stand his consort, Uma (to his left), the goat-headed Daksha (to his right). They fit into separate slots on a typical engraved, tiered South Indian base, with the arch (topped by a kirtimukha) fitting behind them. The figures fit rather loosely but the five parts appear to belong together . Such freestanding shrines are far less common than cast or beaten Virabhadra plaques. Brass colour, little wear, reeasonble rather than high quality.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Virabhadra shrine (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cast brass |
| Brief description | Brass figure; Virabhadra (a form of Shiva), South India, 19th century. |
| Physical description | Cast brass figure of Virabhadra, a form of Siva, who created him as his henchman in his fight with the deity Daksha, the goat-headed figure who stands on the left (proper) of Virabhadra. Siva's wife, Sati, a daughter of Daksha, stands on his right (proper). A five-piece free-standing cast brass shrine with three figures, a base and arch. The central four-armed figure of Virabhadra holds a bow and arrow in his back hands plus a sword and rectangular shield in his front hands. To either side of him, about half his size. stand his consort, Uma (to his left), the goat-headed Daksha (to his right). They fit into separate slots on a typical engraved, tiered South Indian base, with the arch (topped by a kirtimukha) fitting behind them. The figures fit rather loosely but the five parts appear to belong together . Such freestanding shrines are far less common than cast or beaten Virabhadra plaques. Brass colour, little wear, reeasonble rather than high quality. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Transferred from the India Museum in London to the South Kensington Museum ( now the V&A) in 1879. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Bibliographic reference | Mitchell, A.G. 'Hindu Gods and Goddesses.' London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982. Plate 33. ISBN 011290372X |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 880(IS) |
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| Record created | January 3, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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