Ulagalantha Perumal Bronze Sculpture – Vishnu as Trivikrama in Dynamic Stride

Balanced on a lotus pedestal, the bronze rises into motion: one leg firmly grounded, the other lifted high in a sweeping arc, as if measuring the very span of the cosmos. This is Ulagalantha Perumal, Vishnu in his Trivikrama form, captured at the moment his stride expands beyond earthly scale.

Sculpted in classical Chola bronze style, the image narrates the story of Vishnu as Vamana (the dwarf), also known as Trivikrama, as in three (tri) strides, he received the three realms (heaven, earth, and underworld) of existence from king Mahabali.

At the base, a striking detail anchors this ascent: a pair of sculpted hands emerges from the pedestal, gently bearing the deity’s foot. These hands signify Prithvi, the earth itself, lifting and acknowledging Vishnu as he claims dominion through his cosmic stride.

The body is elongated and fluid, its movement carried through the curve of the raised leg and the outward extension of the arms. The bronze surface holds a soft, time-worn sheen, where light gathers along ridged drapery and ornament. The conch and discus affirm divine authority, while the remaining gestures retain composure.

The lifted leg extends the form upward, while the hands below steady and offer. The sculpture holds this tension between ascent and support, giving the figure a sense of suspension that never loses its ground.