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Virupaksha, Guardian King of the WestVirupaksha, Guardian King of the WestPreviousNext

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Virupaksha, Guardian King of the West, 17th - 18th century

Clay, polychrome, and stone with wooden base and interior armature

This lively sculpture of the guardian king Virupaksha is remarkable for its sophisticated workmanship, extensive use of color, and good state of preservation. Even the fragile scarf floating behind the head, providing the otherwise static image with a sense of movement, has survived. The figure is short and sturdy and has a massive head dwarfed by an even more dominant crown. The solid body and stance, expressing certainty and stability, contrast with the figure’s facial expression, his large but comparatively fragile crown, and his floating scarf, all of which convey a sense of action.

This astonishingly well-preserved and colorful clay image represents the guardian king of the west, Virupaksha. He is the king of the naga, the snake beings of the underground. In this rather unusual form the guardian king is of orange color and holds a victory banner in his right hand and a stupa in his left. He wears the armor of a warrior but a large crown featuring the Five Buddhas instead of a helmet. Virupaksha’s name refers to his damaging gaze—his eyes are emphasized here with stone inlays—which is rendered harmless by the stupa he holds.