{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O120563"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O120563/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM4871/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM4871/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM4871","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2012FN0724","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O120563/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O120563","accessionNumber":"IS.252-1953","objectType":"Sculpture","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This granite figure depicts a seated Hindu ascetic, bearded and with long flowing hair. He is wearing a rosary and using a meditation strap (‘yogapatta’) around his torso and knees to allow him to maintain his posture. The sculpture was most likely created for a religious site, such as a temple or Hindu monastery ('matha'). It  probably represents a known Hindu ascetic renowned for his meditative skills or the performance of austere rituals.\r\n\r\nSuch 'portrait' sculptures are rare. When found they are usually cast in bronze so this large-scale granite figure is most unusual.","physicalDescription":"Figure of a Hindu ascetic, with long flowing hair and a beard tied in a knot at the bottom.  He has large bulging eyes under heavy arched eyebrows and a raised thrid eye on his forehead He is seated in a meditative position with his knees drawn up and his feet crossed at the ankles. His arms are supported on his splayed knees with his hands hanging down holding a beaded rosary in his right hand and a conical object in his left. He is wearing <i>rudraksha </i>beads round his neck and further strings of beads on his upper arms and wrists. He has rings on his right hand and he is using a  meditation strap (<i>yogapatta</i>) decorated with a geometric design round his torso and knees, to allow him to maintain his posture. He is seated upon a square base with a concave middle section and shallow mouldings on the front half.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Granite","id":"AAT11183"}],"techniques":[{"text":"carving","id":"AAT53149"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Granite","categories":[{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"}],"styles":[{"text":"Nayak","id":"AAT116709"}],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006AM4871","2012FN0724"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"G","id":"THES396679"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Tamil Nadu","id":"x29843"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"circa 18th century","earliest":"1695-01-01","latest":"1804-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"45","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"28","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"29","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"An ascetic (<i>rishi</i>, literally one who is inspired with ancient knowledge) seated in mediation with the aid of a meditation strap (<i>yogapatta</i>), wearing the long hair of those who follow his path of worldly renunciation and give themselves over to the worship of their god. He wears a string of <i>rudrakasa</i> beads – seeds from a tree holy to Shiva - so identifying himself as a devotee (<i>bhakta</i>) of Shiva. Such <i>rishis</i> were often renowned for their advanced meditative skills and for their ability to perform extreme austerities. \r\n  ‘Portrait’ sculptures of ascetics are a rare occurrence and where they do occur they are more likely to be cast in bronze, for installing in a shrine nearby to their beloved god. Large-scale stone sculptures of this type are very unusual indeed, suggesting that this may in fact be a portrait of a highly revered historical sage or<i> rishi</i>, presumably attached to a famous temple or <i>matha </i>(Hindu monastery). The lineage of highly revered philosophers and teachers at the Kamaksi temple in Kanchipuram is an example of such a temple to which such a <i>rishi</i> might belong.\r\n\r\n\r\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Hindu ascetic, <i>rishi</i> or <i>yogi</i>, granite, Tamil Nadu, south India, circa 18th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Guy, John <i>Indian temple sculpture </i>. London: V&A Publications, 2007","id":"AUTH339668"},"details":"p.72, pl.78","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"<i>Tantra</i>, Arts Council of Great Britain, London, 1971","id":"AUTH353263"},"details":"p.71, Cat.359","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació \"La Caixa\" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació \"la Caixa\", c2007 Number: 9788476649466","id":"AUTH339669"},"details":"p.100, Cat.52","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Willis, M. (ed.) <i>India: the Art of the Temple</i>, Shanghai Museum, 2010","id":"AUTH353266"},"details":"pp.168-9, Cat. 2:32","free":"."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"AAT73727"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["IS.252-1953"],"accessionNumberNum":"252","accessionNumberPrefix":"IS","accessionYear":1953,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LX0687"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2006-01-17","availableToBook":true}}