The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of May 28, 2023

Door Guardian, Mahakala

800s

Indonesia, Central Java, Chandi Suko, 9th century

Volcanic stone

Overall: 61.3 x 32.4 cm (24 1/8 x 12 3/4 in.)

Gift of Dr. Norman Zaworski 1980.203

Location

244 Indian and Southeast Asian

Fun Fact

The crossed chest ornament, called a "<em>channavira"</em> in Sanskrit, denotes power and valor.

Description

The natural stance of this richly adorned figure indicates that he served as an attendant: the face turns to his right, while his midsection turns to the left, and the weight is on his right leg. A plain ovoid halo indicates that he is divine. The broken right hand may have held an implement or weapon that would aid in a more precise identification.

Provenance
?-1980
Dr. Norman Zaworski [1920-2013], Cleveland, OH, gift to the Cleveland Museum of Art
1980-
The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Citations
Lee, Sherman E. “The Year in Review for 1980.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art, vol. 68, no. 6, 1981, pp. 163–219. Mentioned and Reproduced: no. 286, pp. 200, 218 www.jstor.org
Exhibition history

Year in Review: 1980. The Cleveland Museum of Art (organizer) (June 24-July 19, 1981).

Source URL: https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1980.203