Virabadhra Plate, India

Size:

20,5 x 15,5 cm

Region:

Karnataka, India

Type:

Virabhadra came into being after Daksha insulted Shiva’s wife who subsequently comitted suicide and Shiva created him as a form of himself and gave him an army to take revenge from Daksha. Virabhadra cut off Daksha’s head in a battle. The other gods persuaded Shiva to bring Daksha back to life. But Daksha’s head could not be found and so it was substituted with the head of a ram, as can be seen in this plate

He is shown four-armed with a spear, a bow, a sword and a shield

Over his head a seven-headed snake

Around him an arc with Kirthimukkha on top

Dakhsa, his human head replaced with a ram’s head, is on his left, Badhrakali, his consort, on the right.

On top left the Nandi and the sun, top right moon and lingam/yoni

On the back a handle to hold it in front of a Shiva Statue during the puja

Age/Period:

18/19th century

Condition:

Good condition; the nose was rubbed off through puja-use.

cat18-ebee – ENRE