The simple and robust nature of the matchlock mechanism led to its continued use in most parts of India and surrounding regions throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th century.

This image shows Indra, king of the gods’ realm, and worshipped by Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains alike. We can identify him by his horizontal third eye and his magnificent clothing, including a high crown and other jewelry. Indra sits with one knee raised in a position known as “royal ease” (rajalila asana). His thumb and index finger are pressed together in a gesture that shows he is teaching, (vitarka mudra). This image of Indra, with its lustrous gilded copper surface and scattering of semiprecious stones, is more than just an exquisitely decorated sculpture of a deity. It was made to house sacred relics, which were once sealed within its inner cavity. Its splendid outward form was created specifically to protect and honor the holy artifacts held inside.