# Four-Armed God Vishnu

- By: India (Uttar Pradesh, possibly Allahabad region)
- Date: c. 5th century
- Medium: Sandstone
- Classification: Sculpture
- Dimensions: 84.8 × 44.2 × 16.6 cm (33 3/8 × 17 3/8 × 6 1/2 in.)
- Culture: Uttar Pradesh
- Credit line: James W. and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection. Gift of Marilynn Alsdorf
- Museum: [Art Institute of Chicago](https://www.artic.edu/artworks/148363)
- Rights: [Public domain (CC0)](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- Picture: https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/f2aaa281-c23f-a812-056c-6d1db2d7dcb6/full/!1644,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

One of the principal gods of Hinduism, Vishnu is regarded as the preserver of the universe. He stands regally in this sculpture from the Gupta period, wearing a simple crown and a long garland. Originally four-armed, he would have held weapons—a mace, conch, and discus—in three hands. This early image includes a round object, variously interpreted as the earth or a fruit, in his lowered fourth hand. In later images of Vishnu, this hand typically holds a lotus.

Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0