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SOUTHEAST ASIAN OBJECTS FROM THE COLLECTION
BURMA (MYANMAR)
Sculpture from Burma (Myanmar)
CAMBODIA
Sculpture from Cambodia
INDONESIA
Sculpture from Indonesia
THAILAND
Sculpture from Thailand
Ceramics from Thailand
VIETNAM
Ceramics from Vietnam
Shiva
Cambodia; Angkor period (802-1431), Baphuon style, 11th century
Sandstone
H. 41 in. (104.1 cm)
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection of Asian Art
1979.064
This four-armed representation of the Hindu god Shiva, identified by the diamond-shaped third eye in the center of his forehead, has an intriguing history. Buddhist deities often carry an identifying attribute in their headdress and the apparently deliberate abrasions in the center of Shiva's headdress suggest this image was once Buddhist and was later recarved for Hindu use. The shape of the abraded image parallels that of a seated Buddha, so this image was probably once Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, who is usually depicted with a seated Amitabha Buddha in his headdress. The thickness of the sculpture's legs (and presumably the ankles) suggests that this was a freestanding sculpture that did not need additional support. The deep front scoop of Shiva's finely pleated sampot indicate that the figure was carved during the 11th century.
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