Does anyone recognize this lady?

[Mike L.]

Is she a Hindu diety, or ???
Note she appears to be toting a large knife (requisite khukuri content).

--Mike L.

 

[Bill Martino]

I don't know but I'll try to find out if nobody knows. Pala should be here in a couple of weeks -- so he says -- and he'll probably know.

 

[beoram]

Hi Mike - is this one you own? It would be easier to identify if one could see it from other angles...Have you any other photos?

It looks female, but sometimes it's hard to tell, especially from the photo. The breasts aren't quite as pendulous as on some Goddess representations, but the style of dress looks feminine.

Many Hindu murtiyaan (idols) are hard to identify. The primary Hindu Goddesses are Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge, Arts, Learning and consort of Brahma), Parvati (personification of Shakti["power" or "energy", hard to translate] & consort of Shiva), Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth & Luck, consort of Vishnu). Parvati actually appears in a number of forms, as Parvati, a rather 'gentle' Goddess; Durga, a warrior Goddess; and Kali, Goddess of Death (& Renewal).

Typically there are some identifying bits--Saraswati almost always appears playing a sitar or some sort of musical instrument (because She's the Goddess of Arts), and often with a peacock. Durga tends to appear with a lion. Parvati tends to always appear alongside (or in other positions ) of Shiva. Kali often appears standing astride Shiva, but sometimes not. She typically has Her tongue stuck-out though (to lick up rakshasa-blood before it touches the earth) and often fangs. However, She does tend to carry a sickle--are you sure the 'khukuri' isn't a sickle? The sickle can look a bit 'khukurish':

So it's very hard to tell. If I had to make a guess I'd say Kali, but that's only because of the weapon--it isn't a 'standard' icon of Kali. The other problem is that there are many 'regional' deities--even just in India itself, not to mention Nepal, Burma, Indonesia, Thailand, &c.--and though they are typically derivative of/related to the standard Deities, their representations can be very different.

She does look like either an Hindu or Buddhist image, because I think I see a tikka-mark or 'third' eye on her forehead.

Sorry if this isn't that helpful. cheers, B.

 

[Berkley]

Ben,
Thanks for a most informative reply.
It's my impression that Durga is most often represented in Nepalese art, Kali in Indian. Identification is complicated by the fact that Kali is frequently shown astride a lion/tiger as well.
Berk

 

[Mike L.]

Definitely a third-eye mark, there, Berk.
If you don't mind, I am going to email you some more pics so as not to load up the forum with non-knife pics. I've got to get some khukuri photos shot to show the forumites.


--Mike L.

 

[beoram]

Originally posted by Berkley
It's my impression that Durga is most often represented in Nepalese art, Kali in Indian. Identification is complicated by the fact that Kali is frequently shown astride a lion/tiger as well.
Berk

I know very little about Hinduism in Nepal (most of what I know comes from the HI site, but there it mentions the kamis offering puja to Kali), but you're right about Kali & lion/tigers, as in this murti of mine:

(sorry about the poor image quality)

Of course, Kali and Durga are two aspects of the same Goddess and all of the Goddesses are just manifestations of Shakti....but on a more prosaic level, yes identification of Hindu icons is often complicated, save when there exist more definitive 'clues'.

Mike - I got the photos you sent. On reconsideration, I'm fairly certain that this is a female Deity. The hips are too broad for a male (unless it's sort some of eunuch deity I'm unfamiliar with)--I was thrown off by the relatively small breasts. Do you know where it's from? Indian-made icons tend to be rather heavy-breasted (Indian-culture seems, on the whole, to prefer that--I still remember translating a poem by Kalidasa from the Sanskrit--a description of Parvati: one line, when I rendered it into English, was something like 'and her overflowing breasts like ripe melons...') and the Nepali icons seem to follow suit. I'm not so familiar with other Hindu cultures' icons.

I notice in the set of pics you sent that She is standing on what looks like a lotus-flower....which doesn't mean much, lotuses abound, but Lakshmi often is pictured on a lotus. The khukuri-knife is interesting, but it's hard to see....in the one photo it almost looks like a Shivalingam (phallic symbol).

Sorry I wasn't of more help....it's always possible that your figure is just supposed to be a 'generalised' Goddess--but maybe someone else knows more.

cheers, B.

 

[Warlock6]

I believe that I met that gal somewhere is Asia, but do not recall where. It is a big place.

 

[Mike L.]

Beo, I don't know where she is from.

 

[Bill Martino]

I'll ask Pala when he gets here. He knows all the Buddist dieties and many of the Hindu also. Maybe he can ID her for us.

Or maybe some expert will be around to help.