Nepali Sculptures (Murtikala) II Sculptures of Nepal

 Sculptures of Nepal 

Making objects of different shapes, sizes and features of glasses, metals, stones, wood, clay, etc. is called sculpture. Like the art of painting and architecture the sculpture is also connected with religious traditions and practices in Nepal.

There is a long history of making statues of different deities from metal or stones in Nepal. Sculpture developed in different phases of history.

It is believed that the sculpture was introduced in Nepal in the first century or prior than that.

The statues of the kirant period are found here and there in Kathmandu valley. However, enough evidences are not available to prove their authentication that they are the sculptures of Kirant period. It is difficult to analyze the authentication of such sculptures. Some of the scholars consider that the stone statue of Birupaksha located at Aryaghat of Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest statue in Nepal and considered to be made in Kirant period.

Sculpture as an art flourished fully in Lichchhavi period. The sculpture of Baman Trivikram installed by Lichchhavi King Mandev is the oldest dated image available today. History depicts that there was an influence of Nepalese sculptures even in Tibet and China in this period. Images of Trivikram or Vishnuvikranta in Lajimpat and Pashupatinath, image of Vishnu in Buddhanilakantha, Garudnarayan in Changu, Chaitya in Dhokabahaal, etc. are the excellent examples of stone sculptures of Lichchhavi period. Similarly, the statues of Palanchowk Bhagawati, Baraha Awatar of Dhumbarahi, Mahishasurmardini of Pharping, Vishwobirat of Changunarayan, Kaliyadaman of Hanumandhoka, etc. are beautiful sculptures of Nepal. These sculptures are featured as neutrality, religious, theme, minimum use of costume, simplicity and tantrism, etc. 

The development of Nepali sculpture reached its climax in the Malla period. It was golden period of Murtikala. The tradition of making statues of metal, stones, and wood was common during the Malla period. There are many such sculptures of Ganesh, Shiva, Vishnu, Surya, Laxmi, Saraswati, Buddha, etc. build during the Malla period in and around Kathmandu valley. Garud of Mahankal, Narasingh of Hanumandhoka, Saraswati of Handigaun, Suryanath of Banepa, Vishnu and Ugrachandi Bhairav of Bhaktapur , etc. are some examples of the sculptures of Malla period.

Though the sculpture didn't get much attention during the Shah and Rana period, there are some statues of Rana Prime Ministers and Shah Kings at different places of Nepal. There is still a practice of erecting statues of different Gods, Goddesses, and martyrs. The tradition of building statues of Durga, Kali, Saraswati, etc. from clay and straw during festival times is popular in the Terai. There are many institutions and people engaged today to promote the art of painting and sculpture. There is an art of college for the study of fine arts called Lalitkala Campus. Nepal  Academy and some organizations and departments under it are actively involved for the promotion of arts in Nepal. Association of Fine Arts (NAFA)  is also such an organization. This has been playing an important role in promoting the Nepalese arts of painting and sculptures.