This granite sculpture of Brahma (God of Creation) depicts him carrying the kamandalu (water vessel) in one of his hands and holding an abhaya and katisama pose (hand resting on waist. In Hinduism and Buddhism, this sculptural representation, is a gesture of protection and reassurance). Brahma is often shown with three heads, the fourth one (at the back) is not represented. In orthodox Brahmanical Hinduism, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva represent the trinity concept that is responsible for maintaining the balance between Creation, Preservation and Dissolution of the Universe, each God presiding over a designated function in controlling the Cosmos. This sculpture would have come from a cardinal niche on the walls of a Vishnu or Shiva temple.
