Gunga and Jamuna Chest - This chest tells the story of Gunga and Jamuna - Named for the Ganges and Jamuna rivers. The top lid opens as well as each panel to allow for storage of your precious treasures.

Carved of Sisoo, a wood similar to American Rosewood, the front of this chest depicts on the top row Gunga and Jamuna, Jamuna on the left with her vehicle the aligator (Guia) and Gunga on the right with her vehicle the tortoise. Gunga and Jamuna are the twin Goddesses of the Ganges and Jamuna Rivers in northwestern India. They symbolize the life force that brings nutriment and prosperity to the inhabitants of the Indo-Gangiatic Plain. In both Nepal and India twin girls are named after these Goddesses. On the bottom panel of the chest, Ganesh with his vehicle, the rat, and Skandu with his vehicle the peacock are represented. Ganesh serves the important role in Hindu culture of being the God of process (bureaucratic and religious) and prosperity. Every prayer begins with a prayer to Ganesh so that the supplicant may be sure to get the process right. Skandu, the second son of Shiva, is a warrior. In the top center is a recreation of the famous Aki Jhyal, the original of which is a carved window in the town of Bhaktapur outside Kathmandu. The chest was completely hand-carved and constructed in 2003. Its legs and cornice trim represents decorative forms common to the Kathmandu Valley.