Title
Bhuta mask of a boar
Year/Period
18th or 19th century
Region
Karnataka, India
Object Type
Material
Technique
Dimension
Object size: 42.6 x 48 x 47.5 cm
Accession No.
2013-00899
Collection of
This large bhuta mask is finely cast with a long snout, bared teeth and tusks, and bulging eyes. The mask is adorned with a crown composed of naga-hoods and finials. This type of mask is used during bhuta worship, a ritualistic ceremony practiced particularly in the coastal region of Karnataka. Bhutas are celestial spirits that are represented by hundreds of different forms, including forms of Shiva, lions, buffalos and boars. During the ritual ceremony, the mask is worn by a medium who invites the bhuta to possess him. He undergoes a ritual performance consisting of dancing, singing, story-telling, making prophecies and solving problems for the sponsoring family or village group.
