Kubera (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
The Lord of Riches and the Guardian of the North, Kubera is an ancient Indian deity honored by both Hindus and Buddhists. Though he is shown here carrying a sack of riches, it was in his role as a directional guardian (dikpala) that this sculpture was primarily employed. It is almost certainly part of a set of the eight dikpalas placed along the exterior walls of a Hindu temple's sanctuary. Each guardian faced in his appropriate direction and, like a fence, protected the deity enshrined within, ensuring that he would be able to manifest himself in all the directions.
Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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