Goa acquires 16th-century Kalbhairav sculpture from Mandrem
The Directorate of Archaeology in Goa has taken custody of a 16th‑17th century stone Kalbhairav sculpture from Deulwada in Mandrem, after the local temple committee requested its preservation.
The statue, carved from schist and measuring roughly 52 cm by 35 cm, depicts the fierce aspect of Shiva as Kalbhairav. He stands within an ornamental arch, four‑armed, crowned, with a moustache, necklace and waist girdle. A small dog appears at his left foot while a human attendant is positioned on his right—an uncommon pairing in Goan Bhairava icons.
While Bhairava figures are more typical of northern India, this piece highlights the spread of the cult into Goa and provides a rare glimpse into regional variations of the deity’s iconography. The pedestal is partially broken and will undergo restoration before the work is exhibited.
Officials plan to clean, conserve, and display the sculpture in a museum, making it available to researchers and the public and enriching understanding of Goa’s medieval artistic heritage.