Skull with Trident

This mystic image composed of a large gold-like glistening skull with a detachable trident of iron covered with blazing flames, is the representation of Sabdag, a local deity worshipped in and around Spiti valley of Himachal Pradesh as the guardian deity of hills and their inhabitants. Sabdag is the manifestation of Lord Shiva's ferocious form, Bhairava. Besides the eye holes and the wide-open mouth with teeth exposed in full, in the centre above the forehead, there is a fine serpentine waving line, something like a cranial suture. The skull also has a slit at the apex to fix the trident. Sabdag icons are usually placed on the roof-tops of monasteries or on the top of their entrances. It is believed that wherever its vision stretched, evil spirits and demons that pollute and destroy the balance shall be dispelled.