{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O62624"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O62624/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF1896/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BF1896/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BF1896","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV0708","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KV2825","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BC2008","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O62624/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O62624","accessionNumber":"IM.15-1939","objectType":"Figure","titles":[{"title":"Ayannar or Sasta","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"Ayannar or Aiyanar is one of the most popular folk-deities of rural south India where he serves as the principal protective deity of village communities, especially from the malevolent forces that abound at night. His shrines are usually found in the countryside, outside village or town boundaries. They are readily identified by the numerous painted terracotta horses found aound the site, which are offered to him by his devotees.\r\n\r\nAyannar is generally worshipped as the son of Shiva, though his origins undoubtedly stem from a local hero (<i>vira</i>) cult deity. Legend attributes his birth to a sexual union between Vishnu and Shiva. As Vishnu is said to have seduced Shiva by assuming his female form, Mohini, that of a beautiful woman. Due to Ayannar's parentage, he is revered by both followers of Shiva and Vishnu. He is also referred to by some devotees as Harahariputa, literally, the son of Hara (Shiva) and Hari (Vishnu). This reinforces the manner in which he bridges the two principle sects of Hinduism.\r\n\r\nAyannar is exceptional because he is a village guardian deity, who has been elevated and absorbed into the Hindu pantheon. Processional bronze images of him have been commissioned. He is seen here seated in a relaxed posture (<i>sukhasana</i>) holding an elephant goad (<i>ankusa</i>). His radiating hair mimicks that of Shiva in his ascetic-yogic forms, and inside the coils of his hair are a cobra and crescent moon. These two emblems emphasise and recall the close familial affiliation he has with Shiva. The figure would have ridden on an elephant similar to one in the V&amp;A collection (Museum number IM.14-1938), which wears bell-garlands and a small <i>howdah </i>on which Ayannar sits.  Behind him, holding on precariously is a smaller figure, presumably the elephant-keeper (<i>mahout</i>). This form of Ayannar where he is shown riding an elephant is called Sasta. A similar sculpture may also be seen at the Government Museum in Chennai. ","physicalDescription":"A male figure (Ayannar or Aiyanar) seated with his left knee raised and right leg pendant in the <i>sukhasana</i> pose.\r\nThis figure was originally mounted on the back of an elephant, similar to Museum no. IM.14-1938. He holds in his right hand an elephant-goad (<i>ankusa</i>), whilst the left arm is extended sideways and rests on his raised knee. He has elaborately dressed hair within which a half-moon and cobra are visible. He is richly adorned with necklaces, bangles and <i>patra-kundala</i>ear pendants. Across his chest he wears the sacred thread, which consists of three strands that wrap around his upper torso. Below this, he wears a waistband.\r\nAccording to mythology, Ayannar is the son of Shiva and Vishnu. The former god (Shiva) was wooed by Mohini,who was the feminine form that Vishnu assumed to entice Shiva. Ayannar is also known as Harahariputa, ie, son of Hara (Shiva) and Hari (Vishnu). Ayannar is his South Indian name. Sasta is another form of Ayannar, who is typically shown riding an elephant.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Copper alloy","id":"AAT10942"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper","categories":[{"text":"Hinduism","id":"THES48941"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SSEA","id":"THES48598"},"images":["2006BF1896","2017JV0708","2018KV2825","2006BC2008"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES404217"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Figure","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"India","id":"x29790"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"South"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"12th century","earliest":"1100-01-01","latest":"1199-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Dr W L Hildburgh","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Ayannar (Aiyanar), copper alloy, Tamil Nadu, south India, 12th century","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Guy, John. 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London : V&A Publications, 2007. ISBN 9781851775095. pp.172-3, no. 195."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Pal, P. 'Indian Sculpture : A Catalogue of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Collection'. Vol. 2, 700-1800. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles) and University of California Press (Berkeley, Los Angeles, London), 1988. 320 p. ill. ISBN 0-87587-148-18. Cat. 149, pp. 281-2."},{"reference":{"text":"Haworth-Booth, Mark; Indian Sculpture: A Travelling Exhibition, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1971","id":"AUTH348838"},"details":"no. 71","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"Creange, S., Slaczka A., Southworth W. and Wang, C. <i>Asian Bronze: 4000 Years of Beauty</i>, Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, 2024.","id":"AUTH411635"},"details":"pp. 178-179, Fig. 122","free":""}],"production":"Tamil Nadu, south India","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"cobra","id":"x34785"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"6. Aiyanar or Shasta on an Elephant\r\n1100–1200\r\nChola period\r\nAiyanar is a south Indian god who protects villages from the\r\nmalevolent forces that haunt the countryside at night. He\r\nis the son of Shiva and the female form of Vishnu, Mohini.\r\nWhen riding on an elephant, Aiyanar is known as Shasta\r\n(Sanskrit) or Chatta (Tamil), meaning ‘Ruler of the Country’.\r\nThis figure holds an elephant goad.\r\nCopper alloy\r\nSouthern India (Tamil Nadu)\r\nGiven by Dr W.L. Hildburgh FSA\r\nMuseum no. IM.15-1939","date":{"text":"06/06/2011","earliest":"2011-06-06","latest":"2011-06-06"}}],"partNumbers":["IM.15-1939"],"accessionNumberNum":"15","accessionNumberPrefix":"IM","accessionYear":1939,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR0962","2019LT7096","2019LU5011","2020MP1941","2020MP2042"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-04","recordCreationDate":"2001-09-20","availableToBook":false}}