KAPALA

The Kapala is a vessel made from a skull and accompanied by a base and lid used for special offerings of ambrosia (amrita) made to the gods. The ambrosia or water of immortality may be represented by beer, liquors or medicinal herbs. Other times, especially in exorcist ceremonies, what is offered is blood, sometimes replaced by tea. Its most frequent use is in the tantric cult of terrifying divinities who adorn themselves with bones and skulls and drink from these cups containing blood and human organs. Sometimes it is associated with the kartrika. This ritual cup retains its three parts. The lid is topped by the head of a terrifying divinity, two of them in yab?yum, wrapped in haloes of flames and on stylized mountains. Sanskrit letters appear between the divinities. The skull is lined with brass on the inside and topped by a frieze with schematic flowers and inlaid stones. The triangular pedestal, which represents the fire of the sacrifices, has in the angles heads of terrifying divinities on lotus petals, and below lions of Chinese type that flank the three jewels or triratna. It is a piece with an abundant iconographic repertoire and modeled with great care. R.C.M. / Extracted from: Isabel CERVERA FERNÁNDEZ: Fundación Rodríguez-Acosta. Asian Art Collection. Granada, 2002.Bibliography: COMAS, R.: El arte del Himalaya en las colecciones españolas: los bronces. Madrid, 1993, p. 408-409.