Antique Repoussé Vishnu Votive Plaque, India (5174A-TAK) $250

Description

Most Hindus have images of one or more murtis (gods and goddesses) on their home altar to help them in their daily prayers (puja), focus their attention and help visualize them. A murti is treated with the utmost respect, care and reverence but devotees never worship the objects and instead use them used only to help envision the deities during prayer. This copper allow repoussé votive plaque portrays Vishnu surrounded by a double textured aureole, one around his head and the other surrounding his body, both enclosed within thick borders and detailed interior designs. The conch shell in his left hand makes sacred sound om (aum) embodying divine energy and the primal sound from which all creation evolved. His crown represents his supreme power and authority, and his earrings signify the dual nature of creations such as knowledge and ignorance, pleasure and pain and happiness and unhappiness. A flowering lotus next to him and the lotus leaves of his throne symbolizes purity, truth, and the unfolding of creation. Vishnu is the Preserver, the Savior and the Protector of the universe and, along with Brahma and Shiva, are the triad (trimurti) of supreme Hindu deities. Hindus revere him as the divine being from which all things arise. Repoussé is a metalwork technique in which malleable metal is decorated with low relief designs by hammering from the reverse side. A metal sheet cover has been attached to the back, and the piece is set on a custom lucite base. It is mounted on a modern uniquely crafted hand finished frosted acrylic base.