This richly illustrated volume explores the powerful and often misunderstood realm of wrathful and fierce imagery in Himalayan art—once labeled “demonic” by early European observers, but now reexamined with greater cultural insight and empathy. Through in-depth analysis of 66 works of art, the book reveals how fearsome figures are used not merely to terrify, but to protect, heal, and convey benevolence within Himalayan traditions.

Over 200 full-color images showcase the striking visual power and artistic mastery behind these complex creations—sculptures, masks, paintings, manuscripts, ceramics, and textiles—that blur the lines between horror and beauty. Essays by Rob Linrothe, Curator at the Rubin Museum of Art and Associate Professor at Skidmore College, and Marylin Rhie, Professor of Asian Art at Smith College, explore the evolution of wrathful imagery and stylistic variations across time and region.

Published by Serindia for the Rubin Museum of Art in New York, this volume serves as the catalogue for the museum’s opening exhibition (2004–2005), providing detailed entries for each of the 66 featured works and offering a compelling introduction to a world where the terrifying becomes sacred.