Virupaksha, Guardian King of the West

This astonishingly well-preserved and colorful clay image represents the Guardian King of the West, Virupaksha. He is the king of the naga, the snake beings of the underground. In this rather unusual form the guardian king is orange and holds a victory bannerin his right hand and a stupa in his left. He wears the armor of a warrior but a large crown featuring the Five Buddhas instead of a helmet. Virupaksha’s name refers to his damaging gaze—his eyes are emphasized here with stone inlays. This lively sculpture is remarkable for its sophisticated workmanship, extensive use of color, and good state of preservation. Even the fragile scarf floating behind the head has survived. The figure is short and sturdy and has a massive head dwarfed by an even more dominant crown. The solid body and stance, expressing certainty and stability, contrast with the figure’s facial expression, his large but comparatively fragile crown, and his floating scarf, all of which convey a sense of motion. This sculpture is made from unfired clay, the most used material for sculpture in the Himalayas for centuries. In this traditional method, clay is mixed with paper and water to form a hollow sculpture. The inner form is gradually built by using coiled clay strips that are thinned by hand. Much finer clay is then used for the surface details of the sculpture. Separately molded limbs, ornaments, and head are then attached to the figure, and finally the sculpture is painted and filled with consecrated materials. Large clay statues such as this can serve as main images in temples. This one probably once stood vigilantly at the entrance gate of a temple or monastery as one of the Four Guardian Kings. Clay bricks often form the base of these statues. A wooden armature typically provides the underlying structure and X-rays show internal structural supports of wood and wire.