Terrifying Attendant Spirits

Currently not on view

Terrifying Attendant Spirits

c. 10th century

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Feasting on human body parts, these cadaverous rakshasas (malicious spirits) are also attendants of terrifying yet protective deities such as the goddess Kali (and her variant Chamunda). In fact, this sculpture is a fragment from a large image depicting such a deity who once wore a garland of skulls and stood on a corpse (only parts of the garland and the corpse’s head remain).

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Terrifying Attendant Spirits
Fragment from a relief sculpture

Date:

c. 10th century

Artist:

Artist/maker unknown, Indian

Medium:

Sandstone

Dimensions:

32 3/4 x 11 x 11 1/2 inches (83.2 x 27.9 x 29.2 cm) Weight: 200 lb. (90.72 kg)

Classification:

Sculpture

Credit Line:

Purchased with the Stella Kramrisch Fund, 2000

Accession Number:

2000-33-1

Geography:

Made in India, Asia Probably made in Madhya Pradesh, India, Asia

Context:

Period: Medieval Period (c. 600 - c. 1300)

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Currently not on view