GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This is a monumental sculpture from southern India, representing a warlike form of the Hindu god Shiva as Virabhadra ("distinguished hero"). In the story associated with this form of Shiva, the god is angered by his father-in-law, Daksha, who performed a great sacrifice and invited all the gods except Shiva. So furious was Shiva's wife Sati at this slight that she threw herself on the sacrificial fire (hence the term sati to refer to the self-immolation of widows). When Shiva learned about Sati's death, he threw one of his hairs on the ground, and from that Virabhadra arose, destroying Daksha's sacrifice and beheading Daksha. Shiva later relented, restoring the patriarch with a ram's head.
This sculpture makes the martial nature of Virabhadra apparent. He is four-armed, holding a bow, arrows, and a sword in three of his hands, with a short dagger in its holster at his waist. Beneath the shield on which his left hand rests is the severed head of Daksha, while to his right is Daksha again, compassionately restored to life with the head of a ram. The god wears a short, diaphanous dhoti, beaded jewelry, and a headdress containing a Shiva-linga (Shiva's phallus). A protective kirtimukha head crowns the sculpture. Such ferocious images may have occurred in pairs, on either side of a temple door, to ward off evil. Further, this warlike panopoly may reflect the warrior character of the Virashaivas, who fought members of opposing religious organizations.
Virabhadra is a very popular deity in South India, especially in Maharashtra and Karnataka. While bronze plaques of the god are common, such a majestic sculpture in stone is unusual. The fierce fangs, weapons, and militant pose of the figure are common in apotropaic (protective) versions of Shiva. Figures of Virabhadra are common during the Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1565), which had its center in the royal city of Hampi. Before this period, a different wrathful aspect of Shiva, Bhairava, was popular in southern India. (See the Mask of Bhairava.)
Adapted from
- Frederick Asher, "Virabhadra," in The Arts of India, South East Asia, and the Himalayas, Anne R. Bromberg (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013), 107.
- Anne Bromberg, Label text, David T. Owsley Galleries of South Asian Art - Hindu Art, 2006.
- Anne Bromberg, DMA unpublished material, 2006.
NOTES
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Kerala: TGN: 7575353
India (nation): TGN: 7000198
Karnātaka (state): TGN: 1001882
Process/materials
stone: AAT: 300011176
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
Temples: AAT: 300007595
Historical periods
sixteenth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404510
seventeenth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404511
Individuals
Subject terms
Hinduism: AAT: 300073727
Shiva (Hindu deity): DMA
warriors: AAT: 300261945
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From at least 1972: Spink and Son, London
1974-2005: Samuel Josefowitz, Reading, England, purchased from above
2005-2007: On consignment to Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch Ltd.
2007: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation with the assistance of the Wendover Fund, purchased from above through Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch Ltd., New York
The main source for this provenance is correspondence from Samuel Josefowitz to Anne Bromberg (dated November 7, 2006, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File).
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- The British Museum~ Learn more about the story of Shiva's creation of Virabhadra.
- Dallas Museum of Art~To find out more about the symbolism of the Shiva-linga, take a look at this sculpture from the Khmer kingdom.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- Virabhadra is associated with Virabhadrasana I, II, and III, the warrior poses practiced in yoga.
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General Description
This is a monumental sculpture from southern India, representing a warlike form of the Hindu god Shiva as Virabhadra ("distinguished hero"). In the story associated with this form of Shiva, the god is angered by his father-in-law, Daksha, who performed a great sacrifice and invited all the gods except Shiva. So furious was Shiva's wife Sati at this slight that she threw herself on the sacrificial fire (hence the term sati to refer to the self-immolation of widows). When Shiva learned about Sati's death, he threw one of his hairs on the ground, and from that Virabhadra arose, destroying Daksha's sacrifice and beheading Daksha. Shiva later relented, restoring the patriarch with a ram's head.
This sculpture makes the martial nature of Virabhadra apparent. He is four-armed, holding a bow, arrows, and a sword in three of his hands, with a short dagger in its holster at his waist. Beneath the shield on which his left hand rests is the severed head of Daksha, while to his right is Daksha again, compassionately restored to life with the head of a ram. The god wears a short, diaphanous dhoti, beaded jewelry, and a headdress containing a Shiva-linga (Shiva's phallus). A protective kirtimukha head crowns the sculpture. Such ferocious images may have occurred in pairs, on either side of a temple door, to ward off evil. Further, this warlike panopoly may reflect the warrior character of the Virashaivas, who fought members of opposing religious organizations.
Virabhadra is a very popular deity in South India, especially in Maharashtra and Karnataka. While bronze plaques of the god are common, such a majestic sculpture in stone is unusual. The fierce fangs, weapons, and militant pose of the figure are common in apotropaic (protective) versions of Shiva. Figures of Virabhadra are common during the Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1565), which had its center in the royal city of Hampi. Before this period, a different wrathful aspect of Shiva, Bhairava, was popular in southern India. (See the Mask of Bhairava.)
Adapted from
- Frederick Asher, "Virabhadra," in The Arts of India, South East Asia, and the Himalayas, Anne R. Bromberg (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven: Yale University Press, 2013), 107.
- Anne Bromberg, Label text, David T. Owsley Galleries of South Asian Art - Hindu Art, 2006.
- Anne Bromberg, DMA unpublished material, 2006.
Fun Facts
- Virabhadra is associated with Virabhadrasana I, II, and III, the warrior poses practiced in yoga.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- The British Museum~ Learn more about the story of Shiva's creation of Virabhadra.
- Dallas Museum of Art~To find out more about the symbolism of the Shiva-linga, take a look at this sculpture from the Khmer kingdom.
Notes
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Kerala: TGN: 7575353
India (nation): TGN: 7000198
Karnātaka (state): TGN: 1001882
Process/materials
stone: AAT: 300011176
sculpture: AAT: 300047090
Temples: AAT: 300007595
Historical periods
sixteenth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404510
seventeenth century (dates CE): AAT: 300404511
Individuals
Subject terms
Hinduism: AAT: 300073727
Shiva (Hindu deity): DMA
warriors: AAT: 300261945
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From at least 1972: Spink and Son, London
1974-2005: Samuel Josefowitz, Reading, England, purchased from above
2005-2007: On consignment to Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch Ltd.
2007: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of David T. Owsley via the Alvin and Lucy Owsley Foundation with the assistance of the Wendover Fund, purchased from above through Oliver Forge and Brendan Lynch Ltd., New York
The main source for this provenance is correspondence from Samuel Josefowitz to Anne Bromberg (dated November 7, 2006, copy in Dallas Museum of Art Collections Records Object File).
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