A rare and large bronze figure of Bhikshatana-Bhairava
PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE HAMBURG COLLECTION
A rare and large bronze figure of Bhikshatana-Bhairava

SOUTH INDIA, VIJAYANAGARA PERIOD, 16TH/17TH CENTURY

Details
A rare and large bronze figure of Bhikshatana-Bhairava
South India, Vijayanagara period, 16th/17th century
Finely cast standing on a circular base over a rectangular plinth, wearing a short dhoti secured with a belt centered by a kirttimukha mask, adorned with a garland of skulls, various jewelry , wearing sandals, his hair pulled into a high headdress centered by a lingam and with a cresecent moon to his left and an adorative figure to his right, his three hands holding a lotus bud, sword and bow, his fourth resting atop a mace impaling a severed demon head
28 in. (71 cm.) high
Provenance
Private collection, Germany, 1960s

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Hugo Weihe
Hugo Weihe

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Lot Essay

This figure is a rare amalgamation of two Shaivite forms, Bhikshatana and Bhairava. Bhikshatana is a form of Shiva as the wandering mendicant, hence the sandals on his feet. In his story, he made love to a group of wives of forest-dwelling Brahmins, and then fought with the husbands. The battle was resolved when he threw his lingam to the ground and made them worship it; the lingam seen in this figure's headdress. The attributes from Bhairava include the impaled head and possibly the kirttimukha mask as an allusion to his fierce countenance, whereas his purely Shaivite traits include the lotus bud, snake and also the lingam. A similar figure of Bhikshatana-Bhairava appears at the Hoysaleshvara Temple in Halebid, Karnataka.

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