NCERT Class 11 Art & Culture — Chapter 7: Indian Bronze Sculpture

The correct option is 1 and 3 only

Explanation

The Chaturanana Vishnu, also known as Vaikuntha Chaturmurti, is a specific iconographic form of Lord Vishnu that developed primarily during the Gupta period (Mathura school) and became a central theme in the art of Kashmir. It represents the Pancharatra doctrine of the four emanations (Vyuhas).

Statement-wise Analysis:

• Statement 1 is Correct: The term Chaturanana literally translates to "four-faced" (Chatur = four, Anana = face). These images depict Vishnu with four heads attached to a single body.
• Statement 2 is Incorrect: The additional faces in a standard Chaturanana Vishnu (Vaikuntha) image do not represent Brahma and Shiva. Instead, they represent the emanations of Vishnu:
  • Central face: Human (Vasudeva).
  • Right face: Lion (Sankarshana/Narasimha).
  • Left face: Boar (Pradyumna/Varaha).
  • Back face: Fierce/Demonic (Aniruddha/Kapila).
  Images combining Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma are typically classified as Harihara-Pitamaha or Trimurti, not Vaikuntha Chaturmurti.
• Statement 3 is Correct: This iconographic form is a hallmark of Kashmir art, particularly during the Karkota and Utpala dynasties (8th-9th century CE). The Vaikuntha form was the tutelary deity of the Karkota dynasty and is widely found in temples such as the Avantiswami Temple.

Key Takeaway:
Vaikuntha Chaturmurti (Chaturanana Vishnu) features four faces: Human, Lion, Boar, and Kapila/Raudra. It is distinct from the Trimurti and is a defining feature of Gupta and Kashmir iconography.