Exquisite Mysore Wood Carving of Mythical Sharabhas

Name: Sharabha Panel
SKU: PA 00029
Price: 30.00 INR
Availability: InStock

Sharabha Panel

Mysore (Karnataka)

Wood

This unusual pierced panel portrays a pair of mythical Sharabhas perched atop swirling foliage, resting on a double lotus base. The mythical creatures, half-lion and half-bird, are delicately carved with scaly bodies and attractive patterned plumage. Their mouths are depicted spewing vegetation.

In Hindu mythology, Sharabha’s are a composite beast, part-lion and part-bird. Within Sanskrit literature, it initially appeared as an aggressive beast that roamed hilly and forest areas, clearing entire valley’s with a single jump. The mythological creature was later associated with Shaivism, appearing within some Puranic texts as a powerful incarnation of Shiva who assumes the form to pacify Narasimha – the fierce man-lion avatar of Vishnu worshipped by Vaishnava sect. Within Buddhist theology, Sharabha appears in Jataka Tales as a previous birth of the Buddha.

Size (cms): 50(H) x 29(W) x 9(D)
Size (inches): 19.5(H) x 11.5(W) x 3.5(D)