Devta

Devta

10th -11th Century AD. Kota Museum.

           Since the attributes  of this God have been broken, it is difficult to  identify  who He is. Most likely  it is Lord  Vishnu as He has four arms, but does not have three heads. Lord Shiva generally  is not shown with a protruding  belly. But this figure  has a slightly  protruding  belly. In fact, it is the belly which makes the sculpture  come alive. Since the stomach indicates the fact that a person is breathing, the Indian artist, from the days of the Indus Valley  Civilization,  has used the belly to breathe life into the figure.  This sculpture  is a fine example  of this technique. 

Breath is the essence  of life; so breathe easily!