Mother Goddess Brahmani Seated in a Yogic Posture Holding a Water Pot
13th century
Medium
Copper alloy
Dimensions
19.5 × 11.6 × 9.8 cm (7 11/16 × 4 9/16 × 3 7/8 in.)
Classification
copper
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
144905
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This tantric Hindu female goddess is usually part of a set of seven mother goddesses (Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshvari, Indrani, Kaumari, Varahi and Chamunda) called matrikas, but she is also revered as a goddess in her own right. The matrikas are the female shaktis (power, energy) of the male gods, and Brahmani is the shakti of the creator god Brahma. Like Brahma, she is typically shown with four heads (with the fourth one understood to be at the back), symbolizing omniscience, the four sacred s...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...