A sandstone sculpture of Agni, the Hindu god of fire, from Uttar Pradesh, India, dated around 1000 CE, held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession 1955.51, acquired through the Edward L. Whittemore Fund. Agni is shown as the figural form of the sacrificial fire central to Vedic and later Hindu religious practice since the early second millennium BC, crowned and jewelled, with a mustache and pointed beard, flames rising behind his head. Hierarchically scaled attendant figures, some human and some with human bodies and goat heads, flank him in registers, with his sacred animal the goat at the base and, in the upper registers, Brahmans performing fire sacrifice, teaching disciples and practicing yoga.
Facts
Subject Matter
Depicted SubjectAgni enthroned amid attendants, his sacred goat, and Brahmans performing fire sacrifice. 1 Custody
Current LocationCleveland Museum of Art, accession 1955.51 1 Current CustodianCleveland Museum of Art 1 Medium (class) Connections
Associated With
This source names Uttar Pradesh directly: "of Agni, the Hindu god of fire, from Uttar Pradesh, India, dated around 1000 CE, held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession 1955.51, acquired through the Edward L."
Source Agni, God of Fire, 1955.51 (Cleveland Museum of Art)
Depicts
Agni, Deities Source Agni, God of Fire, 1955.51 (Cleveland Museum of Art)
Originated In
India, Regions Source Agni, God of Fire, 1955.51 (Cleveland Museum of Art)
Source Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access API: Cleveland Museum of Art object record 1955.51
Sources
1. Agni, God of Fire, 1955.51 (Cleveland Museum of Art)
Cleveland Museum of ArtCleveland Museum of Art object page, accession 1955.51
The Hindu god Agni, with flames rising behind him, is the figural form of the sacrificial fire, central to religious practice in India since the early second millennium BC. Agni's mount is the goat, and together they preside over the Southeast. In the upper registers, Brahmans perform fire sacrifice, preach to disciples, and practice 'hot yoga.'
catalogue record, medium/object-type description
A sandstone sculpture of Agni, the Hindu god of fire, from Uttar Pradesh, India, dated around 1000 CE, held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, accession 1955.
- Originated In: India, Stored country property on this entity, cited to this source: India
View the Source Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access API: Cleveland Museum of Art object record 1955.51
Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access APIOriginated In: Uttar Pradesh, cultureQuote, Originated In: Uttar Pradesh, culture
"India, Uttar Pradesh"
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