Sculpture and Matsya Purana

[Nil Thapliyal]

The Matsya Purana emphasizes the proper depiction of the deities. Vishnu should be depicted with either four or eight arms. In the four arm depiction the right arms should hold the mace and the lotus, whereas the left arms should hold the Sudarshana Chakra and the conch shell. His vahana, the Garuda, should be at his feet to his right and his consort Lakshmi to his left.