Two temple struts

a.Temple strut

Wood

Late Malla period, circa 17 th century

81x16x10cm

b.Temple strut

Wood with pigments

Late Malla period, circa 17 th century

67x17x11cm

Private Collection New York acquired 1980

Documentation: Art of Nepal, Pal Pratapaditya, 1985, Los Angeles County Museum, p.138

These two temple structures would have served as a strut supporting the overhanging roof in the Hindu temples of the Kathmandu region. The first strut may represent Vishnu, he wears the lotus bud and rosary. The second strut may represent Mahesvari or Chamunda, one of the Mother goddesses. She wears a garland of skulls, she has eight arms. She normally wears the following attributes: a drum, a trident, a sword, a snake, skull-mace, thunderbolt, a severed head and drinking vessel or skull-cup filled with blood. She wears a jata mukuta, a headdress formed of piled, matted hair tied with snakes or skull ornaments. Flags stick out of each side of her head, above which are the flowers of the tree and green foliage.