September 2005
Devotional Arts of Nepal
The worship of Shiva is a prominent aspect of Nepali religious life. Texts detailing aspects of this Hindu god's mythology and his status as supreme divinity and creator, such as the Shiva Purana, were frequently copied and provided with painted bookcovers. Forms of Shiva were appropriated by Nepalis into the tantric Buddhist pantheon.
Shiva can emanate himself in a variety of forms, and twelve four-armed Shivas of various hues sit in a rocky landscape, looking at one another in pairs. Certain iconographic elements are constant among the diverse forms, including the crescent moon in the headdress, matted locks of hair, serpents for jewelry, and wild feline skins for the lower garment.

Sonya Quintanilla (2014) QuebecBook Covers from a Shaiva manuscript
Nepal, 18th century
Opaque watercolor on wood
Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, 1990.168.a-b
The worship of Shiva is a prominent aspect of Nepali religious life. Texts detailing aspects of this Hindu god's mythology and his status as supreme divinity and creator, such as the Shiva Purana, were frequently copied and provided with painted bookcovers. Forms of Shiva were appropriated by Nepalis into the tantric Buddhist pantheon. Shiva can emanate himself in a variety of forms, and twelve four-armed Shivas of various hues sit in a rocky landscape, looking at one another in pairs. Certain iconographic elements are constant among the diverse forms, including the crescent moon in the headdress, matted locks of hair, serpents for jewelry, and wild feline skins for the lower garment.
Last Updated: 9/5/2017