Narasimha, Man-Lion Incarnation of God Vishnu Destroying the Demon Hiranyakashipu
Pala period, 11th century
Medium
Basalt
Dimensions
105.9 × 43.9 × 21.2 cm (41 3/4 × 17 1/4 × 8 3/8 in.)
Classification
stone
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
153538
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Narasimha was one of the avatars of Vishnu, a man-lion form that he assumed in order to help his beloved devotee Prahad, the son of the demon king Hiranyakashipu. He had outlawed worship of Vishnu and tormented the prince for his faith. The king’s devotions were dedicated to the god Brahma, who rewarded him by granting that he could not be killed by man or beast, inside or outside, by day or night. Here, Vishnu is shown in his Narasimha incarnation (neither man nor beast), emerging from a pillar...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...