Karnataka
brass alloy
A fine figure of a standing ram with neck ornament trappings, short tail and characteristic curved horns on a rectangular plinth.The ram is the vehicle (vahana) of Agni- the God of fire in Indian mythology.
Agni (fire) is an important Vedic deity, along with Indra and Surya. Agni acts as bearer of offerings to the gods and thus as mediator between the gods and men. The production of fire, by rubbing two fire sticks (aranis) together, is likened to the act of procreation: the lower stick is regarded as the mother, the upper as the father and Agni as the offspring. Agni may be represented with one, two or three heads crowned by flames, four-armed, riding on a ram or a goat. He may carry a fan, a ladle, a waterpot and prayer beads. His occasionally portly figure suggests his creative and productive powers. He is one of the Ashtadikpalas, guardian of the south-east and one of the five elements constituting the universe.
Sizes (cms): 14.5 (H) x 12.5 (L) x 6 (W)
Sizes (inches): 5.7 (H) x 4.9 (W) x 2.4 (D)
