Divine Support – Paul De Smedt

The author, Paul de Smedt, is an industrial engineer E.M. born in Sint-Niklaas (Belgium) in 1927. During his professional career he was involved as technical director in a company specialised in the production of building materials.
He has a deep interest in art and culture, particularly of Africa, Sri Lanka (demon-dancing and Sanni-masks), Meso-America, Japanese woodblock-prints and Nepal. He is a leading member of different ethnographic associations.
In this unique book the author explores the traditional use of wooden churning-rod holders known in Nepal as ghurras. He puts forward a system of classification in order to build up a symbolic interpretation of the ghurras. He ‘lifts up the tip of a wonderful veil so that we can gain a glimpse into the fundamental meaning of these beautiful artefacts. It is a symbolism that is rooted in distant religious and folk traditions.
These anthropomorphic sculpted objects are used to guide the churning-rod during the churning of milk in order to produce butter. Their sculptural motifs are derived from the holy paraphernalia of Hinduism, Buddhism and Tantricism.
In a way, ghurras can be identified as the karma of ordinary hill people. Their lives slowly evaporating under the burning sun, their souls finally diffusing into the open air of the breathtaking Himalayas: the abode of their gods.