Indra

Indra, the Hindu god of gods, is highly revered in Nepal. Each of his hands held the stalk of a lotus, the one to the side of his left shoulder bearing his attribute, the vajra. Even without this identifying attribute, Indra can easily be recognized on the basis of the horizontal eye on his forehead and the broad crown.

This sculpture features a number of elements characteristic for Nepalese sculpture, such as the gentle smile, hawk-like nose, and the dress with a scarf crossing the thighs. The reddish tone of the metal where the gilding has worn away indicates a high copper content, which is also typical of Nepalese sculpture. Owing to the dated inscription written at the bottom of the base, this image is an important historical document, providing a dated anchor for constructing a chronology of Nepalese art.