Lot of 2 churn stick holders, ghurras - Nepal - (lot no. 2)

Special offer! The price mentioned is for the lot of 2 pieces! Beautiful lot of two old, intensively used churn stick holders, ghurras. Below is more information about ghurras.

• Length: 19 cm and 25 cm respectively

• Total weight: 398 grams

• Origin: Nepal

• Dating: Mid-20th century and 2nd half of the 20th century

• Provenance: Obtained from my own network in situ

More info about churn stick holders: For centuries, Nepalese mountain dwellers have used the ghurra (churn stick holder) as a tool to churn milk into (clarified) butter. This ritual is based on the ancient Hindu myth, the Samudra Manthana: the churning of the primordial ocean by gods and demons. This myth not only tells the creation story but also depicts the struggle between good and evil. By using the ghurra, the act of churning transcends into a sacred event; the ritual confirmation of the Samudra Manthana. For Nepalese people, the churning process is 'darshan', a sacred time of day to be blessed by their gods. The decorations on the ghurras refer to the gods of the Hindu pantheon and are, as it were, the connecting signs to the elusive mystery of the universe. Ghurras are therefore an expression of a transcendent reality, hidden beneath the veil of observable reality.

Ghurras have a round shape at the bottom representing the solar disk (chakra), a symbol of Vishnu, the protector god of the land and the people of Nepal. The solar disk represents the miraculous power of the universal soul, which creates, maintains, and destroys in all spheres of the universe. On the solar disk, there is usually a vertical extension in the form of a lingam, a symbol of Shiva (the god of destruction and recreation). This part is composed of symmetrical figures with symbolic elements. No detail in the depiction is a personal invention; everything has a ritual meaning.

The information regarding these ghurras is based on the exhibition catalogue published in 2004: Ghurra's, goden uit de Himalaya - Nepalese volkskunst. Composition and editing by Annemarie De Gendt and Paul De Smedt.