This mask represents Bhairava, the wrathful manifestation of the Hindu god Shiva. He has three bulging eyes, flaming hair, fanged mouth, and ornaments adorned with skulls and snakes. Worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists in the Himalayan region, Bhairava is the protector of the city of Kathmandu in Nepal. Masks like this are still used for the annual religious and cultural Indra Jatra festival that celebrates Kathmandu’s founding. During the festival, the mask is connected to a large pot filled with home-brewed beer, garlanded with leaves and flowers, and placed on a wooden platform. At the appropriate auspicious moment, the sanctified beer is pumped through a spout placed in the mask’s mouth, bringing with it Bhairava’s blessing, while devotees crowd around to get a drink.
Details
- Title : Face of Bhairava
- Year : c. 16th century
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Mercury-gilded copper alloy with rock crystal, paint, foil, and glass
- Dimension : 28 1/4 × 29 1/4 × 14 3/4 inches (71.8 × 74.3 × 37.5 cm)
- Accession No : 1998-77-1
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Culture : Hinduism
- Collection : Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Credit Line : Purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund, 1998
- Status : On Display
- Curatorial Department : South Asian Art