Wood Carvings of Various Incarnations of Vishnu in the Mohan Chowk at Hanumandhoka Museum

Abstract

This article features the wood carvings of various incarnations of Vishnu in the Hanumandhoka Museum’s Mohan Chowk. Nepali artists depicted the religious tales of Vishnu's Avatars in wooden relief sculptures. Investigation into these sculptures is lacking, so the researcher seeks to fill this gap. Qualitative research methods are employed to analyze the artwork. Pratap Malla constructed the Mohan Courtyard in the middle of the 17th century within the Hanumandhoka Palace. It was embellished with carved tales of Vishnu's Avatars, following the iconography described in the religious text. These sculptures exhibit linear quality, rhythm, distortion, and symbolism. These depictions of mythical stories symbolically teach that evil power is always destroyed by divinity. Artists utilize iconographic rules while exploring their freedom of expression in their depictions of demons. Information acquired through analysis of individual artworks leads to an understanding of the meaning of the works.