Such an unfinished image of Visnu comes from Karaicherchar in Dinajpur, and shows the god in his usual standing posture with four hands carrying the four weapons mentioned above. It is assignable to the 5th century AD, as also the similar image of the god discovered at a place in Khulna district.
This Khulna Visnu, though miniature in size (H. 19 cm), is fully carved in buff sandstone, and shows the Gupta modelling and the physical features more clearly. While the stele of the former Visnu is oval in shape, in the latter its circular form is in cut out. It appears that in the following century the artist of Bengal became sufficiently trained in handling stone material. Such examples as one from Narhata in Bogra district and the other from Khaira in Rajshahi district are indicative of the fact (fig.3). The Visnu from Narhata is carved in the round with a feeling for soft flesh of a relaxed figure and a slight movement. It is being of black basalt, a favoured variety of stone of the Bengal carvers of the following centuries, further strengthens the view. (03 of 16)
This Khulna Visnu, though miniature in size (H. 19 cm), is fully carved in buff sandstone, and shows the Gupta modelling and the physical features more clearly. While the stele of the former Visnu is oval in shape, in the latter its circular form is in cut out. It appears that in the following century the artist of Bengal became sufficiently trained in handling stone material. Such examples as one from Narhata in Bogra district and the other from Khaira in Rajshahi district are indicative of the fact (fig.3). The Visnu from Narhata is carved in the round with a feeling for soft flesh of a relaxed figure and a slight movement. It is being of black basalt, a favoured variety of stone of the Bengal carvers of the following centuries, further strengthens the view. (03 of 16)
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