Bhairava

Object Details

Description

Standing in the dynamic, diagonal pose known as the hunter's strance (pratyalidha), Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva, has three menacing heads and six hands, five of which brandish weapons. Somewhat surprisingly, the sixth hand holds a full-blown lotus stem complete with leaves. Each scowling face has three round bulging eyes, an open mouth displaying fangs, and a trim beard delineated in the fashion typical of Nepalese imagery. On each head, the bristling hair is held into place by a five-lobed crown decorated with human skulls. The god's robust body is ornamented with a range of twisted serpents which serve as earrings, bracelets, and anklets, while a knotted serpent also serves as the sacred thread (yajnopavita) draped over his broad chest and ample belly. Bhairava's signature apparel, a tiger skin with engraved tufts of fur, is his only garment; in addition he wears an openwork ritual apron composed of human bones, with bone swags that sway to either side of his body and accentuate his vigorous, heroic movement.

Label

Standing in the dynamic, diagonal pose known as the hunter's stance (pratyalidha), Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva, is one of the most important deities of Nepal, sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike. Each of his three scowling faces has round bulging eyes, an open mouth displaying fangs, and a trim beard, while his six hands brandish weapons. His robust body is ornamented with a range of twisted serpents, which serve as earrings, bracelets, anklets, and sacred thread (yajnopavita). He wears a tiger skin and a ritual apron composed of human bones.

The image is made by the complex technique called repoussé, in which a copper sheet is cold-hammered alternately from front and back to achieve the desired form. The image is constructed of more than twenty separately made parts. It was then covered with mercury gilding, and during worship it would have received applications of turmeric and vermilion.

Provenance

To 1964

Doris Wiener Gallery, New York. [1]

From 1964 to ?

Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008), Cambridge, Massachusetts, purchased from Doris Wiener, Inc., New York in 1964. [2]

From ? to 1999

Doris Wiener Gallery, New York. [3]

From 1999

Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased from Doris Wiener Gallery, New York in 1999. [4]

Notes:

[1] According to the Curatorial Justification, “The object was sold in New York in 1964 to Stuart Cary Welch by Doris Wiener; it was subsequently published in P. Pal ed. Nepal: Where the Gods are Young, New York: Asia House Gallery, 1975 as cat. #66.” See Acquisition Justification, copy in object file, Collections Management Office. Please also note, the 1975 catalogue entry edited by P. Pal, where the object is mentioned, is credited to “Lent anonymously”.

[2] See note 1.

[3] See Acquisition Consideration Form, object file, Collections Management Office.

[4] See note 3.

Collection

National Museum of Asian Art Collection

Exhibition History

Sculpture of South Asia and the Himalayas (May 4, 1988 to July 9, 2017)

Nepal: Where the Gods are Young (1975)

Previous custodian or owner

Doris Wiener Gallery (active 1964-2011)

Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008)

Doris Wiener Gallery (active 1964-2011)

Credit Line

Purchase — funds provided by the Friends of the National Museum of Asian Art

15th-16th century

Accession Number

S1999.116

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Sculpture

Medium

Gilt copper repousse with pigment

Dimensions

H x W x D: 41.9 x 41.1 x 17.7 cm (16 1/2 x 16 3/16 x 6 15/16 in)

Origin

Nepal

Related Online Resources

Google Cultural Institute

See more items in

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Topic

Hinduism

Shiva

snake

lotus

Nepal

South Asian and Himalayan Art

Record ID

fsg_S1999.116

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3a3b9a140-539e-4214-a210-fa93b15270bb