Page 48 - Christies Alsdorf Collection Part 1 Sept 24 2020 NYC

崇聖御寶 - 詹姆斯及瑪麗蓮 ·阿爾斯多夫珍藏

The metal rods that rise up on each side were intended she wreathed his holy chest
to hold a tiruvatchi or flaming aureole that would frame and it shimmered in their light.
the god and add to his grandeur. Poles would have She fastened brassards around his eight mighty biceps
been threaded through the lugs along the bottom of and tied on a belt which delights all who see
the pedestal and used to facilitate carrying the god she bound a waist-cord about him
during processions. placed bracelets on his hands
and adorned his body with elegant designs.
Shiva’s jatas or dreadlocks are piled elegantly upon his
[trans. Blake Wentworth]
head, with the crescent moon and the trumpet-flower
adorning one side, while a fully-open blossom crowns Two features speak to the continued temple worship
the upswept locks. As is the norm, a diadem frames of this image. The first is the worn condition of the
his face, and he wears a ring in one ear only – an short dhoti and the blurred details of the lion-head clasp
eccentricity associated with Shiva. A short dhoti is held that is the result of continued handling of the image by
in place by a series of belts with a large central lion- priests during daily puja. Additionally, bronzes undergo
head clasp and, as is customary, he is adorned with rich ritual cleansing after they have been taken in procession
jewelry. A ninth-century Tamil poem, Tirukayilaya Ula, outside the temple. Priests place them in an exterior
or “Procession of the Lord of Kailasa” [Shiva], tells us hall within the temple grounds and rub them down,
of the many items of jewelry that Uma places on Shiva using boondi kottai or the olive of the palm tree that,
prior to his emergence in procession, and makes it clear when soaked in water rapidly turns it sudsy. It is this
that adornment was an essential element of dress. regular application of the pulp and seed of the palm-
olive [from which the brand name of Palmolive derives]
She adorned him with a garland fashioned by the irrepressible that produces the coppery sheen that temples mandate
god of love … for the worship of sacred bronzes. Also speaking to
and tied golden anklets about his feet, continued worship of the image is the re-cutting of
she placed a crown set with a radiant crest-jewel on his head the eyes and eyebrows, done at the behest of temple
and on his forehead a shining plate authorities to renew the image for ritual worship. Puja
sparkling with gems. involves devotees gazing intently at the sacred image that
She ornamented his ears with fish-shaped earrings made of looks back at them and thereby transfers grace. The eyes
unpierced ruby of an image were thus of great importance and since
and taking up a beautiful diamond necklace, a strand of gold, years of worship tend to blur the outlines - a feature not
a well-crafted necklace of enormous pearls and a shining garland acceptable to temple priests – the eyes were recut when
of victory, necessary to sharpen the god’s glance.

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PART I