A stone relief fragment, India, Jammu and Kashmir, or Pakistan, 6th to 7th century, showing Vishnu's man-lion avatar Narasimha slaying the evil king Hiranyakashipu. The Metropolitan Museum's own title names the avatar directly. Held today by the Metropolitan Museum of Art under accession 1987.142.90, Asian Art department, Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987.
Facts
Subject Matter
Devotional FunctionReliefs of this kind and period were typically set into the exterior wall or a niche of a Vaishnava temple as one scene in a decorative program depicting Vishnu's ten avatara, meant to be viewed by worshippers circumambulating the building rather than serving as the shrine's own primary cult image. 1 Physical Form
MediumStone relief fragment, India (Jammu and Kashmir) or Pakistan, 6th to 7th century, Metropolitan Museum of Art 1987.142.90 1 Medium (class) Connections
Associated With
This source names Kashmir directly: "relief fragment, India, Jammu and Kashmir, or Pakistan, 6th to 7th century, showing Vishnu's man-lion avatar Narasimha slaying the evil king Hiranyakashipu."
Source "Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu," accession 1987.142.90 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
This source names Narasimha directly: "showing Vishnu's man-lion avatar Narasimha slaying the evil king Hiranyakashipu."
Source "Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu," accession 1987.142.90 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
This source names Pakistan directly: "fragment, India, Jammu and Kashmir, or Pakistan, 6th to 7th century, showing Vishnu's man-lion avatar Narasimha slaying the evil king Hiranyakashipu."
Source "Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu," accession 1987.142.90 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Belongs to Tradition
Source "Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu," accession 1987.142.90 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Depicts
The Metropolitan Museum's own title names Narasimha outright and narrates the act, slaying the evil king Hiranyakashipu.
Source "Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu," accession 1987.142.90 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Originated In
India, Regions Source "Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu," accession 1987.142.90 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Sources
1. "Narasimha, the Man-Lion Incarnation of Vishnu, Slaying the Evil King Hiranyakashipu," accession 1987.142.90 (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Metropolitan Museum of Artaccession 1987.142.90
Culture: India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan. Medium: Stone. Credit Line: Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987.
catalogue record, medium/object-type description
A stone relief fragment, India, Jammu and Kashmir, or Pakistan, 6th to 7th century, showing Vishnu's man-lion avatar Narasimha slaying the evil king Hiranyakashipu.
Originated In: India, Collection record: culture, country and region fields
India (Jammu & Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) or Pakistan
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