An inscription along the bottom dates the creation of the work to 1776 (NS896).
Chariot Ritual (Sanskrit: bhimarata): the birthday celebration for an elder of Kathmandu, Nepal, upon reaching the age of 77 years, 7 months and 7 days.
Sanskrit: Chaitya
Tibetan: Chor ten
The Chariot Ritual is a special birthday celebration. It is practised by both Hindus and Buddhists and celebrated when an elder of Kathmandu Valley reaches the age of 77 years, 7 months, 7 days, 7 hours and 7 minutes. To commemorate this day, the Buddhists are required to commission the construction of a stupa, an architectural reliquary mound. If unable to build a full-sized stupa the family can sponsor a small three-dimensional metal sculpture, a painting, or lastly a hammered metal relief sculpture.
Jeff Watt 5-2005
Details
- Title : Stupa (Buddhist Reliquary)
- Year : 1700 - 1799
- Classification : Sculpture
- Medium : Copper
- Dimension : 45.72 cm (18 in) high
- Accession No : P2000.34.2
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Culture : Buddhism
- Collection : The Rubin Museum of Art
- Exhibition : From the Land of the Gods: Art of the Kathmandu Valley
- Exhibition : Wutaishan, Pilgrimage to Five Peak Mountain
- Publication : Selection of Works - Sculpture (RMA)