Mask
About this object
History of use
May be used in the secular Kolam performances or in Sanni healing exorcisms
Cultural context
ritual
Iconographic meaning
Maru Raksa, demon of death. Characteristics specific to this demon are a black face, long teeth, lotus ears, crown with lines, usually carved, indicating flames. Characteristics shared with some other demon groups are protruding eyes, human-like nose, and ear ornaments imitating Dravidian gold adornments. Colour symbolism includes: black for malevolence ; red for soreness; blue for iron; yellow for gold and brass.
Physical description
Mask with head (part a) with an overall elongated oval shape with a grinning mouth that has thick dark red lips which reveal pointed teeth and curved fangs, a bulbous nose with large nostril holes, protruding eyes, eye sockets decorated with radiating lines, eyebrows formed from domed black shapes with yellow spiral decoration. The headdress is formed from five dark yellow spade-shaped protrusions with black and yellow line decoration surmounted by a domed segment and finial that are dark red with black, grey-green and yellow vertical stripes. The disc-shaped earpieces with a lotus design (b and c) fit into the head via mortise and tenon joints.