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14. Bhairava Shrine Nepal, Malla kingdoms 17th century Polychromed wood height 63.5 cm. |
The representation of Shiva’s head at the front of Bhairava’s headdress and the third eye (urna) in the centre of his forehead characterize this image as that of Shiva in one of his major manifestations. Bhairava is an ancient Hindu god, an awesome destroyer who takes pleasure in the slaying of demons and other evil beings. The present Bhairava shrine was originally placed in a temple to represent the fearsome spirit, whose name literally means ‘terrible’ and emanates from Shiva’s Samharamurti forms. Bhairava heads were significant sculptures in Nepalese art, and were frequently intended to be carried in processions. Bhairava is adorned with a crown made up of snakes, skulls, strings of pearls and plaques, the central plaque bearing an image of the head of Shiva. His two large circular earrings are decorated with lotus motifs and contoured by snakes with their heads raised towards the god. The snake in his left ear is held by a hand on an outstretched arm. Bhairava has an open mouth, into which a pipe was inserted to serve consecrated beer to his devotees. He has flaming locks of hair, a large urna, a curly beard, a moustache, large eyebrows, and a snake that twines around his neck on top of his necklace. The large head is surrounded by nine deities, each seated on an animal. Ganesha and a Shaiva saint are shown in a standing posture; another Ganesha is seated among floral motifs in the lower panel. This rare, finely carved sculpture is still in its complete shape as a Bhairava shrine, with colours and puja adding a lively aspect to the expressive energy it exudes. Provenance: Private collection, U.S.A. Art Loss Register Certificate, Reference S00027724. P. Pal, Art of Nepal. A Catalogue of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Collection, Los Angeles, 1985, p.130, no.S58. Idem, A Collecting Odyssey. Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art from the James and Marilynn Alsdorf Collection, New York, 1997, p. 29. J.-Fr. Jarrige, Musée National des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet, catalogue, Paris, 2001, p.53. |