In Kashmiri sculpture the Hindu god Vishnu is typically represented in his four-faced aspect, with a central human face, the profile heads of a boar and a lion flanking it, and the face of a demon on the back of his head. Various interpretations were postulated by different religious and philosophical sects devoted to Vishnu and his preeminent avatar, Krishna. The Pancharatra sect considered the lion, boar, and demon faces to be emanations of Vishnu that respectively symbolize his divine power, sovereignty, and cosmic energy. Another interpretation purports that Vishnu’s lion and boar faces also refer to his Narasimha and Varaha avatars (see M.81.90.20 and M.72.53.8 respectively). Vishnu's two lower hands rest upon his personified weapons, the club and the discus. In his two upper hands, he carries a long-stemmed lotus (now broken) and a conch shell. Vishnu is depicted as a regal figure with a tall crown, a garland of flowers, and an auspicious ornament on his chest. The earth goddess Prithivi is between his feet, A female donor making an offering kneels at the corner of the base.

• Pal, Pratapaditya. "Some Kashmiri-style bronzes and problems of authenticity." In Indian Art & Connoiseurship: Essays in Honour of Douglas Barrett, edited by John Guy, 86-98. Middletown, NJ: Grantha, 1995.

• Rosenfield, John.  The Arts of India and Nepal: The Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection.  Boston:  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1966.
• Donahue, Kenneth. Los Angeles County Museum of Art Handbook. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1977.
• Pal, Pratapaditya. Indian Sculpture, vol.2. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1988.
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art Members' Calendar 1990.  vol. 27-28, no. 12-1 (December, 1989-January, 1991).
• Reedy, Chandra L.  Himalayan Bronzes:  Technology, Style and Choices.  Newark:  University of Delaware Press, 1997.
• Michell, George.  Hindu Art and Architecture.  London: Thames & Hudson, 2000.