Art Institute of Chicago

Plaque with Local Deity Ghantakarna and Spouse

Nepal

Date

c. 1600

Medium

Gilt bronze

Culture

Kathmandu Valley

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This small plaque, meant for a miniature shrine, most likely in the home, portrays Ghantakarna (“Bell-Eared”), a folk deity who became a manifestation or a companion of Kumara, the God of War. Like Kumara, Ghantakarna is seated on his vehicle, the peacock, while his spouse sits on his knee, supported by her vehicle, a crouching man. He holds various attributes in three of his arms: peacock feathers, a rooster, and a serpent. His fourth arm makes the gesture of reassurance. This folk deity, popular in the Kathmandu Valley, is worshipped for protecting cattle and warding off small-pox.

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