Jaya Prakash Malla and Taleju Bhawani
KAB 2024
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 37 x 27 in
Year: 2007
About the Art
The painting depicts the spirituality of the Kumari tradition in Kathmandu Valley, where Jaya Prakash Malla, the last Malla king of Kantipur, was a devotee of Goddess Taleju Bhawani. Legend has it that she would appear in human form to play dice with Jaya Prakash Malla, but stopped due to the lewd thoughts of the king. In a dream, she told the king she would enter into Goddess Kumari, a prepubescent girl with thirty-two auspicious qualities. The painting creates an intimate environment in the king’s bedchamber, revealing her beauty through soft features and adornments. The painting also features weapons hanging on the bedroom wall, reflecting precautions taken against conspiracies and strife.
