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.

• 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 (November 19, 1992 to July 9, 2017)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Doris Wiener Gallery

  Stuart Cary Welch (1928-2008)

  Doris Wiener Gallery

• Origin

  Nepal

• Credit Line

  Purchase -- funds provided by the Friends of the Freer and Sackler Galleries

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1590s, 1400s

• Name

  Doris Wiener Gallery, Welch, Stuart Cary

• Place

  Nepal

• Topic

  South Asian and Himalayan Art, Art, Lotus, Shiva, Snakes

• Culture

  Himalayan peoples, South Asians, Hindus

• Object Type

  Sculpture