Important Notice

Tulunadu (South Canara), 19th Century CE
Copper alloy
Height: 15.5 in (39.4 cm)
Width: 13.5 in (34.3 cm)

REGISTERED ANTIQUITY-NON-EXPORTABLE


Tulu Nadu includes the regions of northern Kerala and coastal Karnataka, from where this bhuta mask originates. Bhutas encompass spirits which have the power to either protect or harm humans, and they exist in various forms. They are traditionally worshipped by devotees out of fear and respect. In Tulu Nadu, bhutas often represent the spirits of local heroes and animals, and play several important roles in the daily lives of villagers, and their worship takes on a theatrical angle in this region. During rituals, devotees connect directly with these beings through 'mediums' who don their masks and serve as a point of contact between the human and spiritual worlds. Once the ceremonies are over, these masks are returned to the temples from where they were borrowed, and are worshipped as embodiments of the spirits.

The bhuta mask in the present lot represents 'Jarandaya' or 'Jumadi'-two deities worshipped in Tulu Nadu. The most impressive aspect of this version is the expressiveness of the god, with his eyebrows arched, eyes wide open, teeth bared. His naga or snake ornaments accentuate his countenance. The mask fulfils its purpose of evoking a mixed sense of fear and awe in the viewer.

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