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Flames

four mandala vajravali thangka image medicine buddha bhaishajyaguru image agastya the divine sage image ichikawa sadanji i as akiyama kii-no-kami image
agastya the divine sage image

AGASTYA THE DIVINE SAGE

Agastya’s flaming halo represents the sage’s power and level of spiritual attainment.

Learn more about this object

This sculpture would have been placed in a niche on the southern exterior wall of a temple in East Java, Indonesia. Agastya is revered for bringing the teachings of the Hindu god Shiva from south India to Indonesia. Because he is associated with the brightest star in the southern sky, architects in south India and Indonesia placed him in niches on the southern side of their temples.

Object Number

LTS2015.4

Date

ca. 13th century, Singosari period

Place of Origin

Indonesia

Medium

Volcanic stone

Dimensions

H × W × D: 78.7 × 40.6 × 20.3 cm
(31 × 16 × 8 in.)

Credit line

Promised gift of Ann and Gilbert Kinney to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery