Day 21 – 3/30/14: South and Southeast Asian

18-armed goddess Durga, Nepal, 14th-15th Century

On a short trip to New York, we saw the South and Southeastern Asian sections. South Asia consists of India and neighboring countries. Southeast Asia includes Indochina as well as Indonesia. Until the Moslem conquest, all of these areas were apparently some mixture of Buddhist and Hindu. Each country had its own style of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, as well as an elaborate variety of Hindu gods and goddesses. Many had 6 or 8 arms, although the 18-armed version above must hold the record.

We were at the Met at opening and closing times, but spent the middle part of the day visiting with Bev's cousin at the Peacefood Cafe.

Seated Buddha, Tibet, 11th-12th Century