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

Four of the 20 tympana (toraṇa) above the arcaded ground floor ambulatory.
Common to all tympana is Vishnu, seated on a throne against a mandorla,
bearing his most common attributes (conch shell, lotus club and discus) in various
arrangements. The throne is carried by Garuda, whose winged arms are raised,
while his talons clutch the legs of a pair of anthropomorphized snakes (nāga /
nāginī). Vishnu is crowned by a triple ceremonial umbrella with a jewel on top;
Garuda is framed by a pair of female deities in medallions.
A pair of Makara guards the bottom ends of the trefoil arch, their tails ending
in a coiled lotus foliage. They are guarded by birdmen or wisdom bearers. In
the center of the arch appears an auspicious guardian figure such as the face of
Kīrtimukha (11 times), a peacock, an airborne musician or a supporting spirit.
This scene is framed by pairs of dragons.
Photographs by Ashesh Rajbansh, August 4, 2016
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