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Bhairava has a special significance in Nepal as he
is the guardian of Kathmandu. His image is still
paraded through the streets every year as part of
the festival of Indra-Jahra. This is part of an
ancient tradition in which the deity was valued
for his ability to ward off evil with his ferocious
appearance. Bhairava was regarded as a
manifestation of Shiva, created to punish Brahma
during a dispute between the two deities. The
argument arose because Brahma tried to usurp
Shiva in his role as supreme creator of the
universe. As punishment, Bhairava beheaded one
of Brahma’s five heads.
In this mask Bhairava has all his traditional
attributes including a headdress formed from
writhing serpents, three bulging eyes, flaring
eyebrows and a pair of tiger’s teeth clearly
visible in his open mouth. Above the forehead is
a representation of Shiva in his peaceful form.
The quality of the carving is impressive,
especially the two larger snakes that adorn the
deity’s earlobes. There are considerable traces of
red pigment on the mask. This is a ritual powder
that reminds us that this object was once an
important focus of worship.
- (LK.118)
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