Stele with Vishnu, His Consorts, His Avatars, and Other Dieties
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Object Label
Most Ainu religious rituals focus on the transfer of prayers and offerings from the human world to the spirit world. Carved prayer sticks, called ikupasuy, serve as translators and messengers between the worlds. They are held during prayers in most Ainu ceremonies; in rituals that involve rice wine, the stick is dipped in the wine so that droplets can be dedicated to the spirits. One of the prayer sticks shown here has a miniature wine cup carved on top. Ikupasuy are the only Ainu art form to include representations of animals, as seen in the fish and bear’s head on another example shown here.
Caption
Stele with Vishnu, His Consorts, His Avatars, and Other Dieties, 11th century. Schist, 48 x 20 3/4 x 5 in., 192 lb. (121.9 x 52.7 x 12.7 cm, 87.09kg). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. David R. Nalin, 1991.244. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 1991.244_SL1.jpg)
Collection
Collection
Title
Stele with Vishnu, His Consorts, His Avatars, and Other Dieties
Date
11th century
Period
Pala Period
Geography
Possible place made: Bangladesh, India, Possible place made: Eastern region, West Bengal, India
Medium
Schist
Classification
Dimensions
48 x 20 3/4 x 5 in., 192 lb. (121.9 x 52.7 x 12.7 cm, 87.09kg)
Credit Line
Gift of Dr. David R. Nalin
Accession Number
1991.244
Rights
Creative Commons-BY
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