Temple Door Guardian

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This is a teak carved sculpture of Dvarapala, a wrathful demon tamed and converted to Hinduism, a suitable guardian for a temple threshold. This example, fanged and highly animated, was meant to terrify any enemies of the temple god. He holds a club and has assumed a warrior pose borrowed from theatre and temple dance. His flamboyant headdress is also inspired by theatre costume.  In Kerala, South-west India, wood was widely used instead of stone in temple architecture and sculpture