Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, is identified by his four heads that symbolize his all-seeing, all-knowing presence, which penetrates the four quarters of the universe. Three of his heads are manifest in this relief sculpture, while the fourth is understood to be on the rear. Brahma is also the god of wisdom, and the four sacred books of Hinduism, the Vedas, are said to have sprung from his four heads. He is also the teacher of priests and upholder of proper religious ritual. His upper right hand holds a rosary used to count prayers. His upper left hand holds a fly whisk, which is waved symbolically in religious rites. His lower right hand is raised to his chest in a gesture of teaching and discourse. His lower left hand is held horizontally in a meditation position and has a sacred lotus blossom in the palm. To the right of his feet is a sacrificial altar with ritual smoke rising from it that is believed to carry the worshipper's prayers to the gods. The water vessel to his left is symbolic of an ascetic's life and contains holy water used in religious rites. Brahma is invoked in 8th-century Javanese inscriptions as the guardian of temples and correct religious practice. This sculpture was likely created to grace the southern exterior niche of a temple dedicated to the god Shiva. Numerous Hindu and Mahayana Buddhist temple complexes were built in Java during the Shailendra Dynasty (c.730-930), including the great “cosmic mountain” of Borobudur in the 9th century.

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• Los Angeles County Museum of Art.  New York: Thames and Hudson, 2003.