Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 1795298, member: 2844&quot;]It is very nice, Earl.</p><p>Studying Hindu iconography is like reading a phone book (way back when), so interpretation is always tricky.</p><p><br /></p><p>The crowns look southern Indian, so it could be Tamil from either India or Sri Lanka. Southern Indian depictions of lions look a bit like Sri Lankan.</p><p><br /></p><p>Agree, it is a God and his consort, they are often depicted in this way. Rama and Sita never are. The central figure is seated on a double lotus throne, which means he is a divinity. The God is holding a lotus, for spiritual purity. King Rama is generally depicted holding a bow, never a lotus.</p><p><br /></p><p>This doesn&#039;t look like the &#039;cast&#039; of the Ramayana. Important characters are missing, and there are others who never appeared in the Ramayana. All look like divinities, with corresponding high crowns.</p><p><br /></p><p>I can see Narasimha (with lion&#039;s head) on the left, looking sideways. I am not sure Hanuman is present, I haven&#039;t recognized him in the crowd.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/wink.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=";)" unselectable="on" /></p><p>At the back are two minor figures with animal faces, not sure which animals, but they look like attendants.</p><p>With these particular divinities grouped together, I think it is Vishnu with Lakshmi on his lap, surrounded by some of his avatars. The accepted number of Vishnu&#039;s avatars can range from 10-39.</p><p>One of Vishnu&#039;s names is Hari, which means monkey. The little monkey at his feet could be a reference to that.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in