Brahma, marble, India, 19th century.
600,00 zł
Marble sculpture depicting Brahma – the Hindu creator god and personification of cosmic wisdom, belonging to the Trimurti trinity alongside Vishnu and Shiva. The deity has four faces (Caturmukha), which, according to iconography, should face the four sides of the world. In the case of the sculpture on offer, the representation is simplified and the faces are laid out in an arc against a smooth, semicircular wall (stele) from which the figure emerges – two to the left of the central face and one to the right. They symbolize omniscience and the four Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. The figure is depicted in a seated position with one leg on the ground and the other placed on the seat, perpendicular to the body. Brahma has two pairs of hands, in keeping with classical iconography. One pair of hands rests on his knees. In his hand, the deity holds a sphere, interpreted as a symbol of the earth or the entire cosmos and referring to the act of creation and the order of the world. The other pair of hands is raised to shoulder height and holds other attributes, but due to the simplified form their identification is uncertain. The whole work is characterized by a compact body and simplicity of form, sparing details, which gives the work an austere character.
Dimensions: 24 cm (height) x 15 cm (width) x 7 cm (depth)
Weight: 4.75 kg
1 in stock
In the Hindu tradition, Brahma, as the first god of the great Trimurti triad, personifies the supreme intellect, the act of creation and the cosmic order. Although the sculpture on display treats his four faces in a simplified and synthetic manner, their meaning remains the same. They symbolize the four sides of the world, the four Vedas and the four states of human consciousness, from java to the state of pure spirit. The sphere held in the deity's hand relates directly to the myth of the creation of the world and the Vedic concept of Hiranjagarbha, or Cosmic Egg, from which the universe emerged. It represents complete control over matter and the order of the universe. The raised pair of hands, on the other hand, despite the blurred details, alludes to the classical attributes of Brahma, such as the vessel with the water of life, the prayer rope signifying the cyclical nature of time or the sacrificial spoon, which together symbolize wisdom, ritual and spiritual discipline.
| Weight | 4,75 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 24 × 15 × 7 cm |
| Type |
Sculpture |
| Form |
Semi-plastic figure sculpture |
| Materiał |
Marble |
| Kolorystyka |
White-Gray |
| Technika |
Carving |
| Czas powstania |
XIX century. |
| Kraj pochodzenia |
India |
| Autor |
Unknown |
| State of preservation |
Very Good. Sculpture without major losses, with slightly rubbed details |
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