South Asia and Hinduism
Map of Land and Sea Trade Routes across South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia
Introduction to Gods
India is home to many different religions and faiths, including Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Hinduism. Although different, these religions have some similarities among them. For example, Hinduism initially seems polytheistic as it features seemingly different deities with different roles. However, there is a sense that these numerous deities are different forms or “incarnations” of a single divine figure. Would that make it monotheistic (from mono meaning “one” and theo meaning “god”), a religion that believes in only one god? Not necessarily. Hinduism is one of many religions that don’t neatly fit into specific categories, with many ways to interpret and worship.
Let’s look at some objects from LACMA’s collection that show our discussion. This first one is a 10th-century sculpture from Bihar in the Terai region of India and depicts three Hindu deities known collectively as the Trimurti. Look closely at the figures' bodies and faces - what differences between the three figures can you find?
The Hindu Gods Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma, India, Bihar, Terai region, 10th century, Sculpture, Black schist, 22 1/2 x 27 1/4 x 6 in. (57.15 x 69.21 x 15.24 cm), Gift of Ramesh and Urmil Kapoor (M.86.337), South and Southeast Asian Art
To the left, there is a figure with multiple faces. This figure is Brahma, who embodies creation and the creative aspects of the divine. He is often depicted with multiple heads to look in all directions. In this statue, he is also accompanied by the swan he rides. Try to find the one with all four arms still intact. That one is Vishnu, who embodies preservation and the preservative aspects of the divine. In this statue, he is accompanied by a smaller figure with wings, possibly a version of Garuda (discussed below). The figure in the center is Shiva, who embodies destruction and the destructive aspects of the divine. He is also accompanied by the cow he rides, Nandi.
The Trimurti exemplifies how deities can be interpreted as one and many in Hindu religion. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva can be seen as three different forms of a singular deity, but they can also be seen as three distinct entities with their own stories and features.
Each of these three divine figures also has different aspects. For example, let’s take a closer look at Shiva, who embodies the destructive aspect of the divine. Here are three different aspects of Shiva: roles that Shiva can take.
Look closely. What do you notice that is similar; what do you notice that is different?
Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, India, Tamil Nadu, circa 950-1000, Sculpture, Copper alloy, 30 x 22 1/2 x 7 in. (76.20 x 57.15 x 17.78 cm), Anonymous gift (M.75.1), South and Southeast Asian Art
This first statue, made in Tamil Nadu, India, around 950-1000 CE shows Shiva as Nataraja, Lord of the Dance: describe what you see that shows that. Shiva holds and is surrounded by various designs, such as flames in this sculpture. What does the image of a flame mean to you? What else might it mean to other people or from different cultures? Places? Times?
Shiva as Bhaivara, the Annihilator, India, Tamil Nadu, early 13th century, Sculpture, Granulite, 31 x 17 1/4 x 7 in. (78.74 x 43.82 x 17.78 cm), Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Manheim (M.70.42.4), South and Southeast Asian Art
This second statue, which comes from the same place but was made a couple of hundred years later (1200-1300 CE), shows Shiva as Bhairava, associated with annihilation. In fact, “bhairava” comes from the Sanskrit word for “fearful,” so he inspires fear but also protects you from fear. What emotion do you think he is representing in this statue? What images are around him?
Shiva as Ardhanarishvara, combined with his wife Parvati, Nepal, circa 1000, Sculpture, Unalloyed copper inlaid with garnets and an emerald; traces of paint, 33 x 14 1/2 x 5 in. (83.82 x 36.83 x 12.7 cm), From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase (M.82.6.1), South and Southeast Asian Art
This third statue dates back to circa 1000 CE (about the same time as the first Shiva statue we observed) and comes from Nepal, a country that borders India to the northeast. It shows Shiva as Ardhanarishvara, where he is combined with his wife, Parvati. Even though Shiva embodies destruction, this form is associated with unity and completeness. What do you observe in this statue that demonstrates masculine and feminine forms? Consider features like their hair and clothing.
The three sculptures we observed all depict the same deity but emphasize different aspects or parts of his personality. Though Shiva fundamentally embodies the destructive aspect of the divine, he does so through graceful dance as Nataraja, through frightful ferocity as Bhaivara, and alongside the feminine aspects of his wife Parvati as Ardhanarishvara. These three forms are not the only aspects of Shiva, by the way. After all, would you be able to limit your personality to only three parts?
In Life: Rituals and Practices
One of the most beloved gods of Hinduism is the elephant-headed Ganesha, the Remover of Obstacles, and the son of Shiva and his wife, Parvati. He is widely adored, appearing in countries worldwide, such as India, Bangladesh, and Thailand, but also as far away as Fiji and Trinidad and Tobago. Ganesha even appears within other religions that originated in India, such as Jainism and Buddhism.
Dancing Ganesha, Lord of Obstacles, Bangladesh, Dinajpur District, 11th-12th century, Sculpture, Phyllite, 25 3/4 x 13 1/4 x 5 in. (65.41 x 33.66 x 12.7 cm), The Phil Berg Collection (M.71.73.143), South and Southeast Asian Art
Here is a statue from LACMA’s collection, which originates from the Dinajpur district of Bangladesh (another country that borders India to the east) and dates back to the 11th-12th century CE. This phyllite stone sculpture depicts Dancing Ganesha. What do you notice? Describe his body, how he is posed, what he holds, and his surroundings.
As mentioned, Ganesha is usually identified by his elephant head, representing wisdom, clearly drawing on the demonstrated intellect and memory of elephants in nature. Like his father, Shiva, as Nataraja, Ganesha is shown dancing in this statue, denoted by an elevated foot. Ganesha’s other foot rests atop a mouse that serves as his vehicle and symbolizes inactivity and desire, which are forces that Ganesha can keep under control. Also, like his father and other Hindu deities, Ganesha is shown with multiple arms, each holding specific objects or assuming a specific mudra, symbolic hand gestures.
Ganesha has many roles within Hindu cultures, such as the patron of arts, sciences, and wisdom, as well as the Remover of Obstacles, who helps followers to achieve their goals and start new ventures. As such, Ganesha and his image are widely popular both within and beyond India, with many Hindu homes housing at least one deity statue.
Ganesha’s image is especially plentiful during Ganesh Chaturthi, a 10-day Hindu festival often held in August or September. During this celebration, people install clay statues of Ganesha within their homes and out in public and give prayers and offerings to the elephant-headed deity. At the end of this festival, the streets are flooded with dancing and celebration as a procession of clay Ganesha statues travel to the nearest body of water. The statues are then submerged in water to dissolve, allowing Ganesha, the deity, to return to his parent’s home on Mount Kailash.
After Death
Hinduism and other South Asian-originated religions, such as Buddhism and Jainism, believe in reincarnation, the belief that one’s spirit or soul is reborn into a new life after death. This is emphasized through the idea of samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. One’s karma, or the sum of one’s actions through their life, affects whether their next incarnation will be something divine like a deity or something earthly like a bug, animal, or another human. In Hinduism and Buddhism, practitioners hope to end and be liberated from this cycle of death and rebirth and attain moksha or nirvana.
Hindu art shows us that the deities can also be reborn as earthly beings or incarnations. Take Vishnu, one of the Trimurti who embodies the preservative aspect of the divine, as an example. As a deity, Vishnu is usually depicted with specific attributes, such as a crown and four arms which hold objects like a chakra discus, a mace, a conch, and a lotus.
Below are three different depictions of Vishnu from different locations and time periods. Consider how the three pieces differ, but also think about how to tell they’re all the same subjects. What makes up Vishnu’s iconography or images associated with a certain subject?
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The Hindu God Vishnu, Bangladesh, Chittagong District, circa 800, Sculpture, Copper alloy, 5 3/4 x 3 3/8 x 2 in. (14.60 x 8.57 x 5.08 cm), Gift of Michael Phillips (M.79.189.10), South and Southeast Asian Art
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The Hindu God Vishnu, India, Tamil Nadu, 13th century, Sculpture, Copper alloy, 40 1/4 x 18 x 7 3/4 in. (102.23 x 45.72 x 19.68 cm), Gift of Anna Bing Arnold (M.70.5.1), South and Southeast Asian Art
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The Hindu God Vishnu on His Mount Garuda, Nepal, 7th century, Sculpture, Gray-black argillite, 12 x 9 3/4 x 4 in. (30.48 x 24.77 x 10.16 cm), From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, Museum Associates Purchase (M.73.4.10), South and Southeast Asian Art
As you may have noticed, these sculptures were made in different periods, highlighting the continued importance of Vishnu across time. After considering Vishnu’s iconography, we can now see how he is recognizable in his other incarnations. Vishnu is said to have incarnated on earth ten times during times of need or danger.
Vishnu’s first earthly incarnation was Matsya the Fish. Below is a watercolor painting dating back to 1700-1725 or later, and it originates from the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, India. What do you notice about the figures in this work? Describe how the artist differentiated Vishnu as Matsya the Fish from other figures in the work.
Matsya Avatar of Vishnu, India, Himachal Pradesh, Chamba (?), circa 1700-1725 or later, Drawings; watercolors, Ink and opaque watercolor on paper, 8 1/2 x 5 3/4 in. (21.59 x 14.61 cm), Gift of Marilyn Walter Grounds (M.79.252.8), South and Southeast Asian Art
Another incarnation of Vishnu was Narashimha, the Man-Lion, depicted in a mottled red sandstone sculpture from the mid-6th century CE and originating from the Mathura region of Uttar Pradesh, India.
Narasimha, the Man-Lion Avatar of Vishnu, India, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura region, mid-6th century, Sculpture, Mottled red sandstone, 33 1/4 x 18 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (84.46 x 46.99 x 19.05 cm), From the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, purchased with funds provided by the Jane and Justin Dart Foundation (M.81.90.20), South and Southeast Asian Art
Trivikrama, the Dwarf God, is another incarnation of Vishnu. Below is another, more recent (19th century) watercolor work from Nepal, which depicts Trivikrama. What is going on in this image? What details in the image support your hypothesis?
Dwarf Incarnation of Vishnu (Trivikrama), Nepal, 19th century, Drawings; watercolors, Opaque watercolor on paper, 11 5/8 x 9 3/4 in. (29.53 x 24.8 cm), Gift of Ann Rohrer (M.84.58.1), South and Southeast Asian Art
Hinduism is a multifaceted religion with many intricacies within its worldview. It is also one of the oldest living religions in the world, with over 1.4 billion followers within and beyond South Asia. As with Egyptian religion described above, the traditions and worldviews within Hinduism are not static and have various interpretations that have sprouted throughout periods and geographic places. Therefore, some of the ideas discussed in this section might differ from other interpretations by modern Hindus. It is important to note that each of those interpretations is valid and helps us to gain a deeper understanding of how humans are complex in how they view the world around them.