Shaiva Shrines in a Landscape

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Shaiva Shrines in a Landscape

Nepal, 1700-1725
Paintings
Mineral pigments and silver on cotton cloth
42 1/2 x 33 in. (107.95 x 83.82 cm)
Purchased with funds provided by Dorothy and Richard Sherwood and Christian Humann (M.76.20)
Not currently on public view

Curator Notes

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Dedicated to Shiva, a three-story silver temple rendered in an architectural style prevalent in the Kathmandu Valley in the 17th century is set in a wooded landscape surrounded by six subsidiary temples, each enshrining a Shivalinga (literally, the "sign" of Shiva). The ground floor of the main temple has five interior niches with deities flanked on the exterior by two divine guardians. From left to right, the interior deities are Durga, Vishnu, Shiva, Surya, and the elephant-headed Ganesha. The middle floor has the primary shrine, the sacred sanctum (Latin: sanctum sanctorum), with the devotional focus being an adorned Shivalinga with four black faces of Shiva (chatur mukhalinga) representing his different philosophical aspects (only three faces are represented, the fourth face is understood as being on the far side). The Shivalinga is in the central niche flanked by niches with guardians, probably two forms of Bhairava. In the far left niche is the half-female,alf-male Ardhanarishvara, while in the far right niche is a two-armed goddess. The top floor below the temple tower (shikhara) has a single-faced Shivalinga atop a multi-tiered pedestal (yoni pitha). It is flanked by a niche on the left with a meditating yogi and a niche on the right with a Bhairava. In the top center of the painting, two four-armed celestial divinities symbolize the cosmic auspiciousness of the temple. The yellow Sun God Surya is likely on the left. On the right is probably the white moon guide Chandra. They sit on double-lotus bases within red aureoles (prabhavali).
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Bibliography

  • Srinivasan, Doris Meth. Listening to Icons. Vol. 1. New Delhi: Aryan Books International, 2016.
  • Kramrisch, Stella.  Manifestations of Shiva.  Philadelphia:  Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1981.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Nepal. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1985.
  • Srinivasan, Doris Meth. Listening to Icons. Vol. 1. New Delhi: Aryan Books International, 2016.
  • Kramrisch, Stella.  Manifestations of Shiva.  Philadelphia:  Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1981.
  • Pal, Pratapaditya. Art of Nepal. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art; University of California Press, 1985.
  • Yaldiz, M.; Lobo, W., eds. Investigating Indian Art. Berlin: Museum fur Indische Kunst, 1987.
  • Michell, George.  Hindu Art and Architecture.  London: Thames & Hudson, 2000.
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