KVPT’s Patan Darbar Earthquake Response Campaign - Work to Date - September 2016

Indra Kaji Shilpakar from Bhaktapur
replicates four of the Eight
Mother Goddesses (aṣṭamātṛkā)
which protect the doorways at the
upper end of the doorway. Four of
these were lost in the early 1970s.
Indra Kaji first took measurements
at the temple, studied repetitive
elements such as the lotus throne,
the attendant devotee figure, the
crown, earrings, flower garland
and dress. Based on this he made
a drawing, glued it on top of the
wood and recreated the required
six-armed Matrika whose upper
hands wield sword and shield, and
whose lower right hand is based on
the existing examples. The remaining
attributes and the mounts
follow a well-known formula.
Top Left
Maheshvari on a pair of bulls.
Top Right
Indra Kaji Shilpakar working on
Varahi on a pair of buffalos
Bottom Left
Base drawing for Maheshvari
Bottom Right
Indrayani on a pair of elephants.
Photographs Bijay Basukala,
June 12 and 16, 2016
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