Gate Guardians

Dvarapala, as they are known in the Sanskrit language, are door or gate guardians. They often have a fearsome look and are portrayed as warriors armed with a weapon, commonly a gada (mace). The Dvarapala statue is a common architectural element at Hindu temples. In Bali, they were in the past only found at entrances to temples and royal homes but today are quite commonly seen in front of a lot of homes. Part of the mission of Siva Ashram is to celebrate the Hindu diaspora and the entrance to the gardens and the first shrine is a celebration of Balinese Hinduism. In Bali, these guards are called Bedogol. There will be two guardians statues - one standing on either side of the Balinese Entrance Gateway. These statues are 1 meter in height and were carved specifically for Siva Ashram out of black Balinese stone. The carving is complete and both statues are awaiting shipment to Costa Rica. Line drawing courtesy of Manish Prajapati, @artbymanish.