The central figure on this small stone stele is Manasa, a goddess venerated in the Hindu traditions of Bengal in northeastern India. She is worshiped primarily for her ability to prevent and cure snakebites, a power reflected visually in her hood of seven snakes and the snake she holds in her left hand. She is also believed to bestow agricultural prosperity and fertility, here represented by the fruit in her right hand and the vase underneath her foot. A kneeling female worshiper and her offering are shown at the base.In the Himalayan region many craftsmen made objects for multiple religious traditions, and thus the appearance of Hindu and Buddhist works are often closely related. This is exhibited clearly if one compares this depiction of Manasa to depictions of the Buddhist deity Tara in such aspects as body posture, clothing, and ornamentation, as well as figural proportions.

Artwork Details

Title
Snake Goddess Manasa
Dimensions
20 3/8 × 9 × 4 in.
Medium
Phyllite
Origin
Northeastern India
Classification(s)
sculpture
Date
12th century
Credit Line
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
Object number
C2005.36.2
HAR Number
65569
Published references
* Sotheby's, Sale N08111: "Indian & Southeast Asian Art," September 20, 2005, Lot 62.* Van Alphen, J. Collection Highlights: Rubin Museum of Art. New York: Rubin Museum of Art, 2014. Pp. 148-149

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Ritual

Concepts

Prescribed practices that carry symbolic meaning and value within a specific tradition and are intended to attain a desired outcome. Rituals are usually done as part of a ceremony or regular routine.

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Power

Concepts

A kind of energy that can be used, individually and collectively, to effect change.

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Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Figure Type

Hindu gods (deva) are thought to be manifestations of the absolute, or Brahman. The goddesses (devi) are considered manifestations of the Great Mother Goddess (Mahadevi), who is seen as the counterpart to Brahman.

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Northeastern India

Region

As the cradle of Buddhism, northeastern India was and remains today a region abundant in sacred Buddhist sites. Through the late 13th century, India was the epicenter for the production of Buddhist material and visual culture, with teachers, monks, traders, and pilgrims bringing objects back home to Tibet, western Himalayan regions, Nepal, and beyond.

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