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Lot Essay
This crisply-carved sandstone stele captures the scene as Vishnu transforms into his half-man, half-lion avatar, Narasimha, in order to vanquish the demon-king Hiranyakshipu. Vishnu, in the form of his boar-avatar, Varaha, had recently killed the demon-king’s brother, Hiranyaksha. To prepare for vengeance, Hiranyakshipu enlisted the help of the god Brahma, who granted the king the power to not be killed by neither man nor animal, inside nor outside, at day nor night, on ground nor sky, and by weapons animate nor inanimate.
Later, at dusk (neither day nor night), Hiranyakshipu discovers that his son, Prahlad, had become a recent devotee of Vishnu and advances to kill him out of anger. Suddenly, Vishnu, in the form of Narasimha (neither man nor animal) lunges from a pillar (neither inside nor outside), props the demon king on his knee (neither ground nor sky) and disembowels him with his claws (weapons neither animate nor inanimate). This precise moment is depicted in the present stele, with Narasimha fiercely pulling opposite ends of his mane as he defeats the hubristic king. Donor figures, one likely representing Prahlad, sit at his feet. Mythical vyala mounted upon diminutive elephants frame the lively scene, along with more seated and standing attendant figures.
Representations of Narasimha in northern and central India reveal that this avatar of Vishnu was worshiped in both zoomorphic and anthropomorphic forms since the Gupta period. As is the case in the present example, Narasimha is depicted with a strong human body, expressive lion head, and a divine second pair of arms.
Compare the present lot with a sandstone stele of Narasimha with similar iconography and composition sold at Sotheby’s New York, 23 March 2007, lot 17.
Later, at dusk (neither day nor night), Hiranyakshipu discovers that his son, Prahlad, had become a recent devotee of Vishnu and advances to kill him out of anger. Suddenly, Vishnu, in the form of Narasimha (neither man nor animal) lunges from a pillar (neither inside nor outside), props the demon king on his knee (neither ground nor sky) and disembowels him with his claws (weapons neither animate nor inanimate). This precise moment is depicted in the present stele, with Narasimha fiercely pulling opposite ends of his mane as he defeats the hubristic king. Donor figures, one likely representing Prahlad, sit at his feet. Mythical vyala mounted upon diminutive elephants frame the lively scene, along with more seated and standing attendant figures.
Representations of Narasimha in northern and central India reveal that this avatar of Vishnu was worshiped in both zoomorphic and anthropomorphic forms since the Gupta period. As is the case in the present example, Narasimha is depicted with a strong human body, expressive lion head, and a divine second pair of arms.
Compare the present lot with a sandstone stele of Narasimha with similar iconography and composition sold at Sotheby’s New York, 23 March 2007, lot 17.