The arched stele finely carved in relief
depicting the Hindu god Vishnu form
seated
with his consort Lakshmi on his knee upon
a
lotus pedestal, accompanied by the
kneeling
Garuda on his right and Kurma on his left.
Vishnu's four arms
radiate around him holding various
attributes, his consort's left hand raised in
abhaya mudra and right hand lowered in
varada mudra, both jewelled and wearing
long floral garlands. Each deity is
surrounded by a pearl-and-flame aureole,
as is the entire ensemble.
Regarded as the Preserver of the
Universe,
Vishnu is one of the most important gods
in
the Hindu pantheon. In the center of the
symmetrical and hierarchical composition,
Vishnu holds four attributes in his four
hands: a club (gada) representing his
power
in his upper left hand; a lotus (padma) that
alludes to rebirth in his lower right; a now
broken wheel (cakra) for enlightenment in
his lower left; and a conch (sankha)
representing life-giving water in his upper
right.
The stone panel preserves a notable stint
of
red. Red, a sign of both sensuality and
purity in Hinduism, is the hue used for
important occasions, such as weddings,
births and festivals. During prayer, red
powder is tossed upon sacred statues,
and
deities who are brave are often shown
wearing red. Therefore, it suggests that
this
stone panel was socially functional,
situated
in religious sites and temples. This
practice
is still alive today in Nepal and India,
among other regions.
