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Achala, Destroyer of Evils
Made in Nepal
Malla Period (1200-1769), Early 16th century
Artist/maker unknown, Nepal, Newar culture
Gilded bronze with turquoise, spinel rubies, and lapis lazuli or azurite
3 3/4 x 3 3/4 x 2 7/8 inches (9.5 x 9.5 x 7.3 cm)
Bequest of Erwin Swann, 1975

Achala raises his sword to cut away ignorance. He once also held a lasso used to guide wandering souls. The whirling tassels of his scarf emphasize the dynamism of his namesake posture, Achala-asana, characterized by lunging forward on the right leg, the left knee bent and left foot raised skyward. A popular deity among Buddhist Newars in Nepal, Achala is depicted as both a central and supporting figure in many paintings. The pleated front tassel and incised floral patterns on his skin-tight shorts (dhoti) are characteristic of Malla period costume and refined sculptures of the era.

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all text & images © The Philadelphia Museum of Art

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