LIVING TRADITIONS: FOLK AND TRIBAL ART (19-20 APRIL 2017)

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PAIR OF PILICHAMUNDIS
KARNATAKA/KERALA
19TH CENTURY
a) Bronze
7.25 in (18.7 cm) wide
b) Bronze
6.25 in (16 cm) wide
$ 925 ‒ 1,235
Rs 60,000 ‒ 80,000
NON‒EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY
(Set of two)
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SET OF PILICHAMUNDIS
KARNATAKA/KERALA
19TH CENTURY
a) Bronze
7.25 in (18.5 cm) high
b) Bronze
9.5 in (24.3 cm) high
$ 770 ‒ 1,080
Rs 50,000 ‒ 70,000
NON‒EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY
(Set of two)
Bhuta and theyyam traditions, from Karnataka and
Kerala respectively, are part of ritual life rooted in
the ancient belief that certain spirits and guardians
provided protection against “invaders and robbers,
the elements, including fire, storms, flooding,
drought, disease and to assure fertility of the soil,
livestock and the human population.” (Leo S Figiel,
Ritual Bronzes of Maharashtra and Karnataka,
Including the Bhuta Region, 2007, p. 60) Since the
earth is believed to be controlled by these gods,
goddesses, spirits and demons, prayers and sacrifices
are offered to keep them happy.
Such worship occurs on both an intimate, family
level where the devotee carves out a niche in a tree
or inner wall of a house for the bhuta to inhabit,
or on a grand scale where the entire community
or village is invited to participate. While bhuta
ceremonies vary from region to region and on
the basis of the spirit invoked, they always involve
a highly charged atmosphere. “Singing of folk‒
epics or ballads (paadannas) depicting the story
of the spirit concerned, the spectacular dance by
the priest‒impersonator possessed by the spirit,
wearing gorgeous costumes, masks and high
crowns of halo‒like structure and making awe‒
inspiring cries and performing miracles and heroic
feats and delivering the message of the divine spirit,
curing diseases, and settling village disputes ‒ all
these make a festival of grand pageantry leaving
a lasting impression on the spectator even if he is
a non‒believer.” (P Upadhyaya and S Upadhyaya
eds., Bhuta Worship, Udipi: The Regional Resources
Centre for Folk Performing Arts, M G M College,
1984, p. 2)
BHUTA AND THEYYAM TRADITIONS
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