Tracing Shiva. Between Berlin and Kathmandu

How does the meaning of a sacred object change when it moves beyond its cultural and religious context and becomes part of a museum collection?

This film and research project by visual anthropologist Deepak Tolange, which has come out of the “Collaborative Museum” (CoMuse) initiative, explores the meaning and history of the copper-gilded Chaturmukh Shiva Linga kosh in the Museum für Asiatische Kunst collections.

Combining historical materials and documentary recordings about worshipping the deity Shiva and how this is reflected in current religious practices, the film also examines the loss of Nepal’s cultural assets and highlights the spiritual significance of sacred objects for Hindu communities.

Deepak Tolange is continuing his research in Berlin, enquiring into the history of the Shiva Linga kosh within museum collections.