The carved stone sculpture shows a torso of a beautiful celestial maiden, or surasundari,  who is an entertainer to the gods, bearing a gift.  Such sculptures adorn many medieval Indian temples both inside and out.  Low relief detail of necklace and skirt. Custom display stand is included. 

Surasundari means "beautiful woman." In Hindu tradition, whose mythology traces existence back to an act of heterosexual congress, feminine beauty means far more than it does in Judeo-Christian culture. The beautiful woman is a symbol for beauty in all of nature, and beauty is a major spiritual principle. Advocating for representations of attractive women on temples, an ancient Tantric INDIAN CELESTIAL DANCER - MAIDEN STONE 12th - 14th Century A.D.

Country: India

Period: 12th - 14th Century A.D.ctural treatise called "Shilpa Prakaasha" proclaims, "As a house without a wife, as a frolic without a woman, so without the surasundari, the monument will be inferior and bear no fruit." SIZE 5 1/2  6-3/8 INCHES ON STAND