Lot Essay
This impressively carved frieze depicting an association of Revanta with Pingala and Dandanayaka is unique to sculptures of the Pratihara period in north-central India. The story, as related in chapter 79 of the Bhavisya Purana, describes the birth of Revanta as an equestrian deity (an Ashvin) by Surya, the god of the sun in union with Samjna, daughter of Visvakarman, the divine architect. Immediately upon birth, Revanta ran away with his father’s eighth horse, and the sun-god sent Pingala and Dandanayaka to recapture the horse. Being desirous to harm the horse in the process, Pingala and Dandanayaka were unable and Revanta remained the horse’s master. Surya then employed Revanta as the lord of horses and declared that anyone who beheld him would be blessed. For further discussion, see G. Bhattacharya, “A Unique Narrative Stone Panel Illustrating Revanta,” in South Asian Archaeology, 2003, p. 451 – 460. The present example depicts Revanta riding heroically on his horse, sheltered by a parasol held by a gana to proclaim his majesty. The characters’ association with the sun is represented through the image of Surya on the left, and with the Asvins through the three sensitively rendered horses. Ganesha and Gajalakshmi convey the sense of prosperity to all who behold Revanta’s image.