| Brahma from Mirpur Khas | |
|---|---|
 Brahma from Mirpur Khas on display in the National Museum of Pakistan, Karachi | |
| Material | Bronze/Copper |
| Size | Height: 95 cm Width: 53 cm |
| Period/culture | c. 5th or 6th century |
| Place | found in Sindh, India |
The Brahma from Mirpur Khas is an important 5th or 6th century bronze or brass statue depicting the Hindu deity Brahma, created during the Gupta period in Sindh, India (which is now part of modern Pakistan). This remarkable artifact represents the earliest known metallic image of Brahma and stands as the sole representative of its particular artistic school within Gupta sculpture. The statue has been celebrated as "an immense artistic creation" of the Gupta period.
The statue was discovered in a field near Mirpur-Khas, with initial documentation provided by Henry Cousens in 1929, though some sources report it was found at Brahmanabad. It is presently housed at the National Museum of Pakistan in Karachi. Few metal statues of this substantial size have survived from Gupta art, and even fewer feature Hindu subjects, making this piece particularly significant. The material composition varies in scholarly descriptions, with some sources identifying it as bronze, others as brass, copper, or gilt bronze; if originally gilded, minimal traces of the gold leaf remain visible.
Description[edit | edit source]
The four-headed bronze statue stands over three feet tall, depicting Brahma in his characteristic form with four heads rather than the more common three-headed representation in relief sculptures. The figure shows Brahma standing with two hands, attired in a dhoti and yajnopavita (sacred thread) but notably lacks decorative ornaments. Art historian Vasudeva Sharana Agrawala described it as "an exceptionally good specimen of the art of metal-casting in this period," while Śrīrāma and Śaṅkara Goyala termed it "true memorial of Gupta metalsmith's artistic genius." The statue is regarded as the finest example of Gupta art from Sindh, and its existence indicates that the region was a substantial centre of metalworking during the period.