This is a four-armed granite sculpture of Vishnu, from the Chola period. He is standing in samabhanga or equipose on a lotus pedestal. In his upper hands, he holds the shankha or conch and chakra or discus while his lower left hand rests on his hip and lower right hand adopts the abhaya hasta or gesture of protection. In this resplendent form, Vishnu is depicted in his royal persona, wearing elaborate jewellery around his neck and arms, an ornamental waist belt to hold his dhoti in place and a tall jewelled conical crown on his head. The latter feature is also found in Southeast Asian representations of Vishnu, known commonly as mitred headgear.
