Page 159 - Sotheby's October 3 2017 Tantra Buddhost Art

Kurukulla is associated with the Hevajra tantra and may also the best metalworkers of the region, is used to enhance the
be regarded as a form of the goddess Tara, personifying drama of the statue. The gleaming eyes and shining teeth
the compassionate love of the goddess. This superb Pala of the Kurukulla capture the attention, red copper denoting
example is one of the very few recorded bronzes of the deity bloodshot eyes and white silver the teeth. The artist has
from eastern India. The tantra originated in India but while consummately captured the movement, the energy and
Hevajra is relatively commonly depicted, Kurukulla is not. the poise of her ritual dance. The construction of the figure
In von Schroeder’s survey of Indian sculpture in Tibetan was well planned and securely made to ensure survival. The
monastery collections there were no examples found. One dancing figure is separately cast and attached by a thick tang
eleventh century, somewhat provincial example was found at her back passing through the flaming arch and rivetted
at Achutrajpur and is now in the Orissa State Museum, Nihar over, allowing the goddess to appear to be lightly poised on
Ranjan Ray, Karl Khandalavala and Sadashiv Gorakshekar, the very tips of her toes, where the weight is actually taken by
Eastern Indian Bronzes, New Delhi, 1986, pl. 295. The present the arch. The arch and pedestal are cast as one unit. Another
example is a classic Pala sculpture and would have been Pala dancing female figure is similarly attached to a flaming
made in one of the great bronze casting centres in Bengal arch, see Ulrich von Schroeder, Buddhist Sculptures in Tibet,
or Bihar. Copper and silver inlay, one of the hallmarks of Hong Kong, 2001, vol. 1, pl. 94A.

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