NARRATOR:
This richly carved figure from Rajasthan in India leans against his curving bow. Above his shoulders are the feathered tips of his arrows. His right hand is missing now, but most likely once held an arrow. Across his chest is the crossbelt that identifies him as a heroic figure, although his identity is uncertain. He can be associated with the Pandava heroes of the epic Mahabharata and Rama, an earthly avatar, or incarnation, of the compassionate Hindu god Vishnu. Rama is the hero of the Ramayana, one of the great Hindu epics, dating from approximately 400 BC to 600 AD. These mythological stories are based on humankind's eternal battle to choose between good and evil. The gods assume human form, giving humans the chance to encounter the divine.
ACTOR:
Rama lived his whole life by the rules of dharma, one's duty in this life. He was a perfect son and brother, and an ideal husband. As a youth, Rama was tutored by sages, and became an expert archer. Many stories in the Ramayana tell of the power of his arrows to vanquish the forces of evil. In one episode, Rama helps the sages in the forest, killing a hideous demon by firing an arrow into her heart. In another, he is the only one of several princes who can lift the incredibly heavy bow presented to him by the god Shiva, thus winning the hand of his faithful wife, Sita.
NARRATOR:
For a brief summary of Hinduism, press 2011.
Pandava Hero (?)
c. 956
Asia: India, Rajasthan
On View
Indian heroes are often identified by the presence of bows and arrows—symbols of valor and military skill. This monumental figure cradles the fragment of a bow under his left arm; a quiver of arrows is visible behind his shoulder. His right hand probably once held an arrow. The figure most likely represents one of the Pandava brothers, heroes of the great Hindu epic, the Mahabharata.
Details
- Title: Pandava Hero (?)
- Date: c. 956
- Medium: Sandstone
- Dimensions: overall: 82-1/2 x 24 x 15 in. (209.6 x 61 x 38.1 cm)
- Credit Line: The Norton Simon Foundation, Gift of Mr. Norton Simon
- Accession Number: F.1976.07.S
- Copyright: © The Norton Simon Foundation
Object Information
- Knoke, Christine, Arts of Asia, p. 64
- Dye III, Joseph M., Asian Art: Selections from the Norton Simon Museum, 1988, fig. 13 p. 31
- Pal, Pratapaditya, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Volume 1: Art from the Indian Subcontinent, 2003, no. 109 pp. 150-151
- Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, 2010, cat. 1161 p. 378
- Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, 2010, cat. 1162 p. 378
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