Erotic Iconography in Nepalese Temples: Archival Analysis and Comparative Study with South Asian Sacred Art

Abstract

This study examines the erotic iconography carved on the wooden struts (tudāls) of temples in the Kathmandu Valley and situates these motifs within the wider South Asian artistic tradition through a comparative, archival, and interpretive approach. The research categorized erotic motifs by the type of act, posture, and architectural position, as well as the condition and history of the continuity, by means of a database of archival photographs. The results showed that paired maithuna images were the most prevalent type of carving in Nepalese temples, comprising more than 40% of the carvings in temples, and were much more common than triadic or group scenes. Placement studies found that Erotic struts were placed in the Second tier of temples with south and west direction to indicate the cosmological arrangement, which was observed in tantric semiotics of liminality and fertility. Consanguinities and dissimilarities with Khajuraho and Konark, too, could be summarized. Common systems of symbolism of fertility, auspiciousness, and cosmic harmony represent an affirmation of the pan-South Asian relevance of erotic imagery. Yet divergences were apparent in terms of materiality and ritual function: Nepalese wooden struts privileged an intimate, self-contained vignette set in a communal shrine; the Indian stone temple monumentalised erotica in sprawling narrative reliefs for dynastic and pilgrimage settings. The susceptibility of wooden images to subvert earthquakes and their discriminatory replacement in post-earthquake reconstruction drew attention to the fragility of erotic themes as part of the inheritance. With the combined use of iconographic analysis, tantric hermeneutics, and heritage studies, the present study addressed an important lacuna of scholarship. It has been shown that Nepalese erotic struts are not peripheral decorations, but are instead integrally related to the theme of temple sculptures as well as to metaphysical concepts and group ideals. The research facilitates broader dialogues regarding the intersections of sexuality, spirituality, and heritage in South Asia, highlighting the necessity of preserving the archive and maintaining the space with community awareness.