Bronze

India 19th to 20th century

Dimensions: Height 27 cm Wide 9 cm Depth 16 cm

Weight: 2530 grams

Vayu is the Vedic God of Wind, Air and Breath and a messenger for the gods. He can be identified by his vehicle, a gazelle or antelope.

Sometimes he is also depicted with four arms, but this statue shows him with two, holding a staff or stick in one hand, another object probably lost.

The stick is called danda and is known from Vedic students or an monks to keep for protection in emergencies.

It also acts as a symbol of self-control. He is dressed in a loincloth and his body is adorned with jewellery.

His long wavy hair is combed to the back. He has a moustache and bushy eyebrows and he is sticking out his pointy tongue.

The antelope is standing on a rectangular base with a beaded line in the middle.