Vishnu is one of Hinduism’s most important and powerful deities. He is the great Preserver, vanquishing those who seek to destroy the balance of the universe. In Hindu legend, Vishnu descends to earth in many manifestations, known as avatars, to fight powerful demons and to save his devotees. The avatars range in form from Varaha the boar to Parashurama the Brahmin warrior, and in character from Narasimha the ferocious half-man half-lion, to Krishna the charismatic prince-cowherd. The legends of Vishnu have inspired some of the greatest art, literature, and ritual traditions in India. This catalogue examines the many faces of Vishnu and the ways that the god has been represented, from antiquity to the present. Essays by noted historians of South Asian art delve deeply into the regional and sectarian traditions of Vishnu worship in India. Illustrations and discussions of almost 200 works of art, in a wide range of media and borrowed from collections around the world, reveal the rich diversity of India’s art and religious culture. With essays by Doris Meth Srinivasan, Leslie C. Orr, Cynthia Packert, Joan Cummins and contribution from Neeraja Poddar. Published in association with Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville.
