Image title: Nairatma (Nepal, 19th century)

This Copper sculpture shows an image of Nairatma/Nairatmya, from the 19th century origination from Nepal.—Materials used: Copper repoussé.

Description: The Tantric Buddhist goddess Nairatma/Nairatmya, "Absence of Ego" dances wildly on a corpse, draped with a garland of skulls and brandishing a gruesome three-headed staff and skull cup. She is the counterpart of the Tantric Hindu goddess Guhyeshvari.

Gallery information:

The Patan Museum is located on the Durbar square of Patan (Lalitpur/Lalitapura, Kathmandu, Nepal) which is associated Keshav Narayan Chowk (Keshavnarayan)—a form of Lord Vishnu. Being listed as a World Heritage Site, the whole of Durbar square is filled with exquisite temples, sculptures and other ancient structures, of which the ancient history history can be traced to the Malla Kings of Lalitpur. It is an important site for both Buddhism and Hinduism.