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These skeleton lords of the charnel ground are animated by ecstatic dance and laughter, their festive demeanor expressing the joy of being free from attachment. They are brother and sister, and the male and female figures can be distinguished only by their garlands and attributes. The male sports a garland of freshly severed heads and holds a skeleton club and a skull bowl. The female, in contrast, wears a garland of dried skulls and holds a staff and a golden vase. They support the practice of the deity Chakrasamvara and are revered as powerful protectors.
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The text on this work, written on cloth and attached to the piece, begins with the specific mantra of the lords of the charnel ground and then evokes the protective function of the couple:
“Eliminate misery from harmful spirits, fire, water, and lightning, the perseverance of ill-will, robbery, thievery, and harmful underground and earth spirits; in short protect from outer, inner, and secret adverse conditions from today until attaining great awakening.”
Lords of the Charnel Ground, Smashana Adipati
OriginTibet
Date18th century
DimensionsObject size: 6 1/2 x 5 1/8 x 1 1/2 in
Object w/ Base/Mount #1 size: 6 5/8 x 5 1/4 x 1 1/4 in.
Base/Mount #1 size: 6 3/8 x 4 3/4 x 1 1/4 in.
Object w/ Base/Mount #1 size: 6 5/8 x 5 1/4 x 1 1/4 in.
Base/Mount #1 size: 6 3/8 x 4 3/4 x 1 1/4 in.
MediumPainted terracotta
Classification(s)
Credit LineRubin Museum of Art
Object numberC2002.36.1
Himalayan Art Resources Number65149
DescriptionFRONTThese skeleton lords of the charnel ground are animated by ecstatic dance and laughter, their festive demeanor expressing the joy of being free from attachment. They are brother and sister, and the male and female figures can be distinguished only by their garlands and attributes. The male sports a garland of freshly severed heads and holds a skeleton club and a skull bowl. The female, in contrast, wears a garland of dried skulls and holds a staff and a golden vase. They support the practice of the deity Chakrasamvara and are revered as powerful protectors.
BACK
The text on this work, written on cloth and attached to the piece, begins with the specific mantra of the lords of the charnel ground and then evokes the protective function of the couple:
“Eliminate misery from harmful spirits, fire, water, and lightning, the perseverance of ill-will, robbery, thievery, and harmful underground and earth spirits; in short protect from outer, inner, and secret adverse conditions from today until attaining great awakening.”
15th century
19th century
19th century
18th-19th century
18th century
mid-19th century
early 18th century, ca. 1720
19th century
19th century
19th century
late 18th or early 19th century
19th century