Hindu Brass Five-headed Cobra (Mucalinda) Arati Lamp

This votive arati lamp is of cast brass. It is in the form of a five-headed cobra (Mucalinda) rising from a lotus stem. The stem functioned as the lamp’s handle. The lamp stands on two engraved, domed feet.

The lamp does not have pans to hold oil. Instead, it is of a more unusual type whereby the back of each of the cobra’s heads has a small eyelet through which cotton slivers soaked in ghee or some other oil were inserted and lit.

The handle allowed the lamp to be moved in front of a deity as part of the arati ritual, a component of puja worship. The lamp would be moved in a clockwise direction before the image of the deity.

A similar example is illustrated in Kelkar (1961).

The example here is in fine condition.