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{{short description|Four-headed aspect of Hindu god Vishnu}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = The Hindu God Vishnu LACMA M.80.6.2 (2 of 2).jpg
| caption = Vaikuntha Chaturmukha, 9th century, Kashmir in [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]]
| name = Vaikuntha Chaturmurti
| affiliation = Form of [[Vishnu]]
| abode =
| mantra =
| weapon =
| consort =
| mount = [[Garuda]]
}}

'''Vaikuntha Chaturmurti''' or '''Vaikuntha Vishnu''' is a four-headed aspect of the Hindu god [[Vishnu]], mostly found in [[Nepal]] and [[Kashmir]] (northern part of the Indian subcontinent). The icon represents Vishnu as the [[King of the gods|Supreme Being]]. He has a human head, a lion head, a boar head and a fierce head. Sometimes, even three-headed but aspects of Vishnu where the fierce rear head is dropped are considered to represent Vaikuntha Chaturmurti. Though iconographical treatises describe him to eight-armed, he is often depicted with four. Generally, Vaikuntha Chaturmurti is shown standing but sometimes he is depicted seated on his ''[[vahana]]'' (mount) [[Garuda]].

The concept of a four-headed Vishnu first appears in the [[Hindu epic]] ''[[Mahabharata]]'', but the complete iconography was first found in a 5th-century [[Pancharatra]] text. The icon reflects influences from the [[Gupta period]] and the [[Gandhara]] architectural tradition. While as per one interpretation, the animal heads represent Vishnu's avatar [[Narasimha]] (lion-headed man) and [[Varaha]] (boar), another theory based on Pancharatra texts relates the four heads to the ''[[Chaturvyuha]]'': [[Krishna|Vasudeva]] (Krishna), [[Balarama|Samkarshana]] (Balarama), [[Pradyumna]] and [[Aniruddha]] – four ''vyuha''s (manifestations) of Vishnu. A cult centered on Vaikuntha Chaturmurti developed in Kashmir in the 8–12th century, when the deity also enjoyed royal patronage in the region. The [[Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho|Lakshmana Temple]] of [[Khajuraho]] suggests his worship in the [[Chandela]] kingdom (Central India) in the 10th century.

==Names==
The icon is known by various names: ''Vaikuntha'',<ref name="Rao"/><ref name="Geer2008"/> ''Vaikunthanatha'' ("Lord of Vaikuntha"),<ref name="Rao"/> ''Chaturmurti'' ("four-fold representation"),<ref name="anna"/> ''Chaturanana'' ("four-faced"),<ref name="ArtPal1989"/> ''Para Vasudeva Narayana'',<ref name="met">{{cite web | url=http://www.metmuseum.org/collections/search-the-collections/38515 | title=Vishnu as Para Vasudeva-Narayana | publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art. | work=Official site | access-date=6 March 2014}}</ref> ''Vishnu Chaturmurti'', ''Vishnu Chaturanana'' and ''Vaikuntha Chaturmukhi'' ("four-faced Vaikuntha").<ref name="Geer2008">{{cite book|author=Alexandra Anna Enrica van der Geer|title=Animals in Stone: Indian Mammals Sculptured Through Time|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oQ3quxh9gsgC&pg=PA460|access-date=22 December 2012|year=2008|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-16819-0|pages=406–7}}</ref> The ''[[Vishnudharmottara Purana]]'' calls him ''Vishnu-Vaikuntha''.<ref>Gail p. 300</ref> The icon may be called ''Chaturvyuha'' ("having four vyuhas"), when identified with the four manifestations or ''vyuha''s of Vishnu.<ref name="anna">Chaturmurti or Chaturvyuha. (2002). In ''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend, Thames & Hudson''. Retrieved from http://www.credoreference.com/entry/thhll/chaturmurti_or_chaturvyuha</ref>

[[Vaikuntha]] generally refers to Vishnu's abode, but in the ''[[Mahabharata]]'' and the [[Puranas]], this term is also used as an epithet of Vishnu.<ref>Gail p. 305</ref> Though no clear etymology of ''vaikuntha'' exists, the term is believed to be derived from ''vi-kuntha'', literally meaning "not blunt". The earliest scriptures like the [[Vedas]], [[Upanishads]] and [[Brahmanas]] connect the epithet to [[Indra]], the king of the gods and the Supreme god of the era. By the time of the ''Mahabharata'', Vishnu gained the role of Indra and the epithet ''vaikuntha'' was transferred to him. The use of ''vaikuntha'' in the name also suggests that the form represents the [[Parabrahman|Para]] (Ultimate Reality) form of Vishnu.<ref>Desai pp. 37–8</ref>

The name ''Chaturmurti'' also appears in the ''[[Vishnu sahasranama]]'' (thousand names of Vishnu).<ref name="Chinmayananda1983">{{cite book|author=Swami Chinmayananda|title=Thousand Ways to The Transcendental: Vishnusahasranama|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G2EfW1oiVw8C|access-date=23 December 2012|year=1983|publisher=Chinmaya Mission|isbn=978-81-7597-245-2|page=193}}</ref>

==Iconography==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = The Hindu God Vishnu LACMA M.69.13.2 (17 of 17).jpg

| width1 = 240
| alt1 =
| caption1 =
| image2 = The_Hindu_God_Vishnu_LACMA_M.69.13.2_(5_of_17)_(cropped).jpg
| width2 = 180
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| footer = (left) The three front faces: (from left) lion, human and boar and (right) the demonic face
}}

The [[Pañcaratra|Pancharatra]] text ''Jayakhya-Samhita'' mentions that Vaikuntha Chaturmurti has four faces: Vaikuntha, Narasimha, Varaha and Kapila and four arms holding the usual attributes of Vishnu: [[Panchajanya|shankha]] (conch), [[Sudarshana chakra|chakra]], [[Kaumodaki|gada]] ([[gada (weapon)|mace]]) and [[Padma (Vishnu)|padma]] (lotus).<ref name="Desai39"/> In the ''Vishnudharmottara Purana'', Vaikuntha Chaturmurti is described as having eight arms and four faces, human (''nara'' – human or ''saumya'' – mild or ''purusha'' – man) facing the East (front), lion (''[[Narasimha]]'' – the lion-headed avatar of Vishnu) on the South (his right head, left), boar (''[[Varaha]]'' – the boar avatar of Vishnu) on the North (his left head, right) and demonic (''kapila'' or ''{{transl|sa|raudra}}'' – fierce/wrathful or ''[[rakshasa]]'' – demon) facing the west (rear).<ref name="anna"/><ref>Gail pp. 297–300, 306</ref><ref name="VyasShah1995"/><ref name="museum">{{Cite web|url=http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/india/museums/pw3.html|title=Vaikuntha Chaturmurti|access-date=22 December 2012|publisher=Art and Archeology Museums}}</ref>

In one of earliest Vaikuntha Chaturmurti images dating from the Gupta era – c. 6th century (now housed in Mathura Museum), the positions of the boar and lion heads are reversed, though this is a rare aberration.<ref name = "Desai41">Desai p. 41</ref> The central front face may be smiling.<ref name="museum"/> Sometimes, the back face may be omitted.<ref name="N.Y.)1993"/> The fourth head may be replaced by a horse ([[Hayagriva]], another avatar of Vishnu) or a [[Ayudhapurusha|Chakrapurusha]] (the personified [[Sudarshana Chakra]] – the discus weapon of Vishnu).<ref name="VyasShah1995"/><ref>Gail pp. 297–300</ref> The ''kapila'' head may have a moustache, bulging large eyes, a [[third eye]], grinning teeth, fangs, a short chin, broad eyebrows and a ferocious, grim or sad expression. His hair are generally tied up in a large knot – a ''jata'' (matted hair) like a sage; rarely he may wear a crown.<ref name="ArtPal1989"/><ref name = "Desai41"/><ref name="MET">{{Cite web|url=http://www.metmuseum.org/pubs/bulletins/1/pdf/3269249.pdf.bannered.pdf|format=pdf|title=Asia|access-date=22 December 2012|publisher= Metropolitan Museum of Art}}</ref>

[[File:Vishnu Vaikuntha Chaturmurti, four-armed, four-headed, Kashmir, 9th century CE.jpg|thumb|left|Four-armed, four-headed ''Vishnu Vaikuntha Chaturmurti'', Kashmir, 9th century CE]]
The name of the fourth head as Kapila is interpreted in two ways. Taking the literal meaning of ''kapila'' as red, it is interpreted as meaning fierce or angry. The epithet ''kapila'' is associated with the fire god [[Agni]] and the solar deity [[Surya]] in early canonical texts.<ref>Desai pp. 39–40</ref> Another theory relates to Vishnu's sage avatar and founder of [[Samkhya]] philosophy, [[Kapila]], who is described as having a wrathful nature and cursing the sons of [[Sagara (Vedic king)|Sagara]] to turn into ashes for insulting him. The head-dress ''jatajuta'' is typical of [[Brahmin]] sages like Kapila. The ''[[Agni Purana]]'' also describes the icon having four heads, without describing the nature of each. The iconographical treatises ''Aparajitapriccha'' and the ''Rupamandana'' mention that the fourth head is ''[[Shri]]'' ([[Lakshmi]] – the wife of Vishnu) and ''Stri'' (female) respectively, however no sculptures with a fourth female head have been discovered.<ref name="Gail p. 306"/> The back face may be carved on the halo behind the central three heads in [[low relief]] or in a space between the halo.<ref name="ArtPal1989"/><ref name = "Desai41"/>

In the iconography of Kashmir, during the 8th and 9th centuries, the gods of Hindu [[Trimurti]] – [[Brahma]], Vishnu and [[Shiva]] – each are depicted with three heads. In a sculpture displayed in the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] in New York, the four-headed Brahma as well as Shiva are shown with three visible heads. Vishnu is depicted as Vaikuntha Chaturmurti in this configuration, with three visible heads.<ref name="N.Y.)1993">{{cite book|author=Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)|title=A Decade of Collecting, 1984–1993: Friends of Asian Art Gifts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cgamFDLxJNAC&pg=PA49|access-date=17 December 2012|year=1993|publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art|isbn=978-99947-1-120-8|pages=49–}}</ref>

[[File:Vishnu and Shri Lakshmi on Garuda LACMA M.72.53.1 (1 of 2).jpg|right|thumb|Lakshmi-Vaikuntha riding his vehicle (''[[vahana]]'') [[Garuda]], 11th century Kashmir]]
Vaikuntha Chaturmurti is generally depicted standing. He wears rich clothes (generally in sculpture, only a [[dhoti]]<ref name = "Desai41"/>) as well as various ornaments like a crown, armbands, necklaces etc., symbolic of royalty and the [[yagnopavita]] (sacred thread).<ref name="KossakWatts2001"/> In his eight arms, he is prescribed in the texts to carry [[gada (weapon)|gada]] (mace), sword, arrow and the Sudarshana Chakra in his left hands and [[shankha]] (conch), shield, bow and lotus in his right hands.<ref name="Rao">{{cite book|last=Rao|first=T.A. Gopinatha|title=Elements of Hindu Iconography |volume=1: Part I|year=1916|publisher=Law Printing House|location=Madras|page=256|url=https://archive.org/stream/cu31924071128825#page/n661/mode/2up}}</ref> However, in sculpture, he is often [[Chaturbhuja|four-armed]]<ref name="anna"/><ref name="Gail p. 306">Gail p. 306</ref> and in two of his hands, he holds a lotus and a conch, while his other hands rest on the heads of his personified weapons (''[[ayudhapurusha]]'') – Gadadevi or Gadanari (gada as a female) on his right and Chakrapurusha on his left, who stand as small figures besides his legs. They both look upwards towards him and hold fly whisks. A tiny figurine of the earth goddess [[Prithvi]] (who associated with Varaha and Vishnu as his consort) rises from the pedestal in between his feet, as though supporting the deity. A short dagger or sword may be tucked up in the waist belt of the god near the right hip, a peculiar feature of Kashmir icons. Attendants or devotees may be also shown besides or below Vishnu.<ref name="ArtPal1989">{{cite book|author=Pratapaditya Pal|title=Indian Sculpture (700–1800): A Catalog of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Collection|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-fvKVDxcJoUC&pg=PA53|access-date=22 December 2012|date=1 February 1989|publisher=Los Angeles County Museum Of Art and University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-06477-5|pages=53–4, 70–2}}</ref><ref name = "Desai41"/><ref>[http://www.nortonsimonfoundation.org/collections/browse_title.php?id=F.1975.16.09.S Vishnu as Vaikuntha, 10th century] The Norton Simon Foundation</ref> Sometimes, Brahma and Shiva and the [[Dashavatara|ten avatars of Vishnu]] may be depicted in the background.<ref name = "Desai41"/>

As prescribed in the ''Jayakhya-Samhita'', Vaikuntha Chaturmurti may be depicted as riding his vehicle (''[[vahana]]'') [[Garuda]] too,<ref name="Rao"/><ref name="Desai39"/> though these images are rarer. In this configuration, the god holds a sword, a lotus, a mace or a conch and the ''chakra''. Generally, on four feathers of Garuda sit four female figures, two on either side of Vaikuntha Chaturmurti. The identity of the female figures is uncertain. They are interpreted as two goddesses (possibly consorts of Vishnu – Lakshmi and Bhumi) and two female attendants.<ref>Desai pp. 42–3</ref> The ''Jayakhya-Samhita'' mentions that four goddesses Lakshmi, Kirti, Jaya and Maya as the female counterparts of Vaikuntha Chaturmurti.<ref name="Bandyopadhyay1987">{{cite book|author=Bimal Bandyopadhyay|title=Survey of Indian metal sculpture|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7DS4AAAAIAAJ|access-date=17 December 2012|date=1 January 1987|page=146|publisher=Sundeep Prakashan}}</ref> Rarely, Vaikuntha Chaturmurti is accompanied with his consort Lakshmi, who sits on his left thigh. This form is called ''Lakshmi Vaikuntha'' in the ''Jayakhya-Samhita''.<ref name="Desai 43">Desai p. 43</ref>

In rare instances, true to the textual descriptions, Vaikuntha Chaturmurti is depicted as eight-armed. Examples of these exist in [[Kandariya Mahadeva Temple]], Khajuraho; Siddhanatha Mahadeva Temple, Sandera, [[Gujarat]] and [[Jhalawar]] Museum.<ref name = "Desai44"/> A ten-armed Vaikuntha Chaturmurti is found at [[Sahastra Bahu Temples|Sasbahu temple]], [[Nagda]]. A twelve armed Vaikuntha image is categorized as a different form called ''Ananta'' by iconographical treatises; an illustration of the same is found at Lakshana Devi temple, Brahmaur, Chamba. This form is also identified with the [[Vishvarupa]] form of Vishnu. Another variant of Vaikuntha image is sixteen-armed and is called ''Trailokyamohana''.<ref>Desai pp. 44–5</ref>

There are some sculptures that synthesize Vaikuntha form with other forms of Vishnu. An 1170 CE sculpture at Chamba depicts Seshasayi Vishnu (Vishnu reclining on the serpent [[Shesha]]) with the three heads of Vaikuntha form. Another sculpture in [[Markula Devi Temple]], [[Udaipur]] combines [[Vamana|Trivikrama]] (another avatar of Vishnu) with Vaikuntha's three heads.<ref name = "Desai44">Desai p. 44</ref>

==Development and symbolism==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| total_width=400
| header = ''Vaikuntha Chaturmurti'' in Mathura<br>5th century CE
| image1 = WLA brooklynmuseum Vishnu Caturanana Four Armed red sandstone.jpg
| caption1 = Full figure of four-armed, three-faced Vishnu. 5th century CE. [[Brooklyn Museum]].<ref name="CS"/>
| image2 = The God Vishnu in Three Incarnations. Northern India (Mathura), Gupta period, mid-5th century AD. Boston Museum.jpg
| caption2 = Fragment of a statue of Vishnu with the three faces, mid-5th century. [[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston]].<ref name="CS"/>
| footer_align = center
| footer =The God Vishnu in three incarnations (''Chaturvyuha''): [[Vishnu]] himself or [[Krishna]] in human form, [[Varaha]] as a boar, [[Narasimha]] as a lion. [[Art of Mathura]], [[Gupta Empire|Gupta period]].<ref name="CS">For English summary, see page 80 {{cite book |last1=Schmid |first1=Charlotte |title=Les Vaikuṇṭha gupta de Mathura : Viṣṇu ou Kṛṣṇa? |date=1997 |pages=60–88 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/arasi_0004-3958_1997_num_52_1_1401}}</ref>
}}
Vaikuntha Chaturmurti first appears in the ''Mahabharata'', where he is known as ''Murtichatushtaya''. Besides the four faces, no details of his iconography are found though.<ref name = "Desai39">Desai p. 39</ref> The ''Jayakhya-Samhita'', generally dated to the Gupta period (c. 5th century CE), is the first iconographical reference to Vaikuntha Chaturmurti.<ref name="Gail pp. 305-6">Gail pp. 305–6</ref>

Though three-faced Vishnu images from the [[Mathura]] school exist from the [[Gupta period]], not a single four-faced Vaikuntha Chaturmurti from this era has been found until this day.<ref name="Gail pp. 305-6"/> It is suggested by scholars that the three-faced Vishnu images should be considered as Vaikuntha Chaturmurti too, where the fourth head was dropped by sculptors just for sake of convenience.<ref name="Gail pp. 305-6"/> An alternate theory dates ''Jayakhya-Samhita'' to c. 600–850 CE and suggests that the three-faced Vishnu images of Gupta era as well as Gupta icons of [[Vishvarupa]] (another form of Vishnu) inspired the iconography of the Vaikuntha Chaturmurti, which developed in [[Kashmir]] in the 8th century and attached the fourth head on the back of the older icon of a three-faced Vishnu.<ref name="Gail pp. 305-6"/> Though popular in Kashmir, the four-headed icon is rarely seen outside of it.<ref name="ArtPal1989"/><ref name="Gail p. 306"/>

The iconography of Vaikuntha Chaturmurti was influenced by [[Gandhara]] architectural tradition, which impacted the iconographic depictions of sculptures of Northwest India, particularly those made in Kashmir.<ref name="KossakWatts2001"/> Keeping with the Gandhara style, the body and legs are depicted as strong and sturdy. The muscular body is considered to be inflated with ''[[prana]]'' (life-breath), an Indian concept. The bow arched eyebrows and lotus shaped eyes are also characteristic of the Indian school of sculpture.<ref name="KossakWatts2001">{{cite book|author1=Steven Kossak|author2=Edith W. Watts|title=The Art of South and Southeast Asia: A Resource for Educators|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=orBAYzCRJhIC&pg=PA73|access-date=17 December 2012|date=1 January 2001|publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art|isbn=978-0-87099-992-5|page=73}}</ref> The presence of the earth goddess at the feet also reflects Central Asian influence. The ''ayudhapurusha''s in the icon may be inspired by those in the Vishnu iconography of [[Gupta Empire#Art and architecture|Gupta art]].<ref name="ArtPal1989"/> They and the earth goddess are also part of traditional Vishnu iconography, even when he is depicted as one-headed.<ref name="Publications1989"/>

The central Vishnu head and side heads of Varaha and Narasimha may be influenced by other configurations in architecture. For example, Vishnu, Varaha and Narasimha may be depicted on back (western) and side (northern/southern) walls of temples. Varaha (rescues the earth from the cosmic waters at the beginning of an [[Kalpa (aeon)|eon]]), Vishnu (as a human) and Narasimha (destroying a demon) may represent creation, preservation and destruction – the three functions in the Hindu universe.<ref>Gail pp. 300, 305</ref> Vaikuntha Chaturmurti represents Vishnu as the [[King of the gods|Supreme Being]], Creator of the Universe.<ref name="met"/><ref name="KossakWatts2001"/> Also, Varaha and Narasimha are oldest in antiquity (avatars [[Matsya]] and [[Kurma]] which are described in sacred texts to be appearing before Varaha and Narasimha were associated with Vishnu at a later date).<ref name="Gail pp. 297-9, 306"/> Their presence in the iconography of Vaikuntha Chaturmurti suggests that this form originated in the Gupta era, where their cults were at their peak.<ref name="Desai39"/>

Many writers associate the boar and lion heads to the avatars Varaha and Narasimha, others associate with the ''Chaturvyuha''s, however the latter is heavily disputed.<ref name="ArtPal1989"/><ref name="museum"/><ref name="Gail pp. 297-9, 306">Gail pp. 297–9, 305–6</ref> The ''Vishnudharmottara Purana'' describes the ''Chaturvyuha''s – [[Krishna|Vasudeva]] (Krishna), [[Balarama|Samkarshana]] (Balarama), [[Pradyumna]], [[Aniruddha]] – four manifestations of Vishnu. Though the text does not explicitly equate the two forms. Many modern indologists as well as Pancharatra followers associate both of them based on the association of Chaturvyuhas with [[guna]]s (qualities) in the ''Vishnudharmottara Purana'' and the Pancharatra texts. The gunas are in turn associated with Vaikuntha Chaturmurti. The human face is Vasudeva, who symbolizes strength/power (''bala''); the lion is Samkarshana, who is knowledge/wisdom (''jnana'') personified; the demonic form is Pradyumna, who is prosperity/sovereignty (''[[aishvarya]]'') and the boar is Aniruddha, the Lord of energy (''shakti'').<ref name="ArtPal1989"/><ref name="Gail pp. 297-9, 306"/>

==Worship==
[[File:Main Idol - Lakshamana Temple.jpg|right|thumb|Vaikuntha Chaturmurti as the central icon in [[Lakshmana Temple]], [[Khajuraho]]]]
The presence of Vaikuntha Chaturmurti found in Kashmir and north West India predating 10th century suggests the worship of Vishnu in this form in the era. The form developed a cult between 8th to 10th century CE. The 12th century chronicle ''[[Rajatarangini]]'' also mentions about the installation of this form of Vishnu. The icon received royal patronage from King [[Avanti Varman (Utpala dynasty)|Avantivarman]], the founder of [[Utpala dynasty]] (reign: 855–883 CE); temples built in his reign often depict Vaikuntha Chaturmurti.<ref>Desai p. 47</ref> Vaikuntha Chaturmurti became the [[Kuladevata|tutelary deity]] of the Karkotas and Utpala dynasties of Kashmir. It was also popular in the regions adjoining Kashmir.<ref name="Publications1989">{{cite book|author=Marg Publications|title=Art and architecture of ancient Kashmir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FQfqAAAAMAAJ|access-date=17 December 2012|year=1989|publisher=Marg Publications|isbn=978-81-85026-06-0|page=85}}</ref>

The [[Lakshmana Temple, Khajuraho|Lakshmana Temple]] of [[Khajuraho]] is dedicated to Vaikuntha Chaturmurti. Though three-faced, an inscription in the temple suggests that it should be considered four-faced. It also records a legend where Kapila and other demons conjoined together in a single form and were blessed by Brahma that only someone in the same form could slay them so Vishnu took the form of Vaikuntha Chaturmurti.<ref name="VyasShah1995">{{cite book|author1=R.T. Vyas|author2=Umakant Premanand Shah|title=Śilpasaṃvit|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC&pg=PA88|access-date=22 December 2012|date=1 January 1995|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|pages=88–9}}</ref><ref>[http://asibhopal.nic.in/monument/chhatarpur_khajuraho_lakshmantemple.html# ASI]</ref> The presence of the Lakshamana Temple in Khajuraho suggests worship in the [[Chandela]] kingdom in the 10th century.<ref name="Desai 43"/>

The Trailokyamohana form of Vishnu was worshipped in Gujarat between 12th to 15th century CE.<ref>Desai p. 45</ref>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
{{commons category|Vaikuntha chaturmukha}}
* {{cite book|author=Kalpana Desai|title=Iconography of Visnu|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4M90AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA47|date=31 December 2013|publisher=Abhinav Publications|pages=37–|id=GGKEY:GSELHU3JH6D}}
*{{cite journal | title=On the Symbolism of Three- and Four-Faced Viṣṇu Images: A Reconsideration of Evidence | author=Adalbert J. Gail | journal=Artibus Asiae | year=1983 | volume=44 | issue=4|jstor=3249614}}

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[[Category:Forms of Vishnu]]
[[Category:Lion gods]]

Vaikuntha Chaturmurti - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article