Old ghurra, churning stick conductor, Nepal, early 20th century

Beautiful authentic old ghurra, churning stick conductor, ritual utensil A beauty this very old ghurra. Clear traces of intensive use and age. A very special price!

Length: 21 cm
Weight: 241 grams
Origin: Nepal.
Date: Early 20th century
Origin: Obtained on site within my own network

(code CC3)

More information about churning stick conductors: For centuries, the Nepalese mountain dwellers used the ghurra (churning rod holder) as a tool to churn milk into butter. This ritual is based on the age-old Hindu myth, the Samudra Manthana: the churning of the primeval ocean by gods and demons. This myth not only tells the story of creation, but also depicts the battle between good and evil. By using the ghurra, the act of churning is transcended into a sacred event; the ritual confirmation of the Samudra Manthana. The churning process is for Nepalese '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 intangible mystery of the universe. Ghurras are therefore an expression of a transcendent reality, hidden under the veil of observable reality.

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

For information about the Ghurras, use was made of the exhibition catalogue published in 2004: Ghurras, Gods from the Himalayas - Nepalese Folk Art. Composition and editing Annemarie De Gendt and Paul De Smedt.