Djokjokarta (Klaring) (r. Djokjokarta) Eight-armed bronze Trailokyavijaya dashing a corpse (Former Klaring collection). Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta district, D.I. Yogyakarta province, 9th-10th century. Possibly 1865 - 1867

This photograph captures a bronze statue of Trailokyavijaya, made in Yogyakarta between the 9th and 10th centuries. Here, the deity is depicted with eight arms, a bow, and a corpse, each element laden with symbolic weight. The multiple arms signify divine power, a motif echoing across cultures from ancient Hindu deities to classical depictions of titans. Note how Trailokyavijaya tramples a corpse, symbolizing the triumph over ignorance and death. This motif resonates with ancient sacrificial rituals, where the vanquishing of a victim signifies the overcoming of chaos. The image of a vanquished foe, prevalent in ancient Greek sculptures of battling heroes and centaurs, speaks to a deeper, universal yearning to conquer mortality. Ultimately, this is more than religious iconography. It's a window into the cyclical nature of symbols, their continuous adaptation across time, mirroring our collective unconscious and its unyielding quest for meaning and control.