Vabhru-vahana
Painting
1616-1617 (made)
1616-1617 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This page once belonged to an illustrated manuscript of the Razmnama, or Book of War, the Persian translation of the great Hindu text, the Mahabharata, that describes the epic battles between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The translation from Sanskrit was made by order of the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1582 and was largely accomplished by about 1586. Here, Arjuna's son Babhruvahana is shown in the nether regions trying to seize the gem that will restore his father to life. It is guarded by serpents that must be vanquished.
The painting is signed by the artist Abdullah, and dated 1025/20 January 1616-8 January 1617.
The painting is signed by the artist Abdullah, and dated 1025/20 January 1616-8 January 1617.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Vabhru-vahana (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Painted in opaque watercolour on paper |
| Brief description | Painting, Razm Nama illustration, Vabhru-vahana overcoming serpents with arrows, by Abdullah, opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal empire, 1616-1617 |
| Physical description | Painting, in opaque watercolour on paper, depicting Babhruvahana (Vabhru-vahana) descending to the nether regions to recover the gem guarded by snakes that will restore his father, Arjuna, to life. Illustration to the Razm Nama. |
| Content description | Babhruvahana (Vabhru-vahana) descending to the nether regions to recover the gem guarded by snakes that will restore his father, Arjuna, to life. Illustration to the Razm Nama. |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This page once belonged to an illustrated manuscript of the Razmnama, or Book of War, the Persian translation of the great Hindu text, the Mahabharata, that describes the epic battles between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The translation from Sanskrit was made by order of the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1582 and was largely accomplished by about 1586. Here, Arjuna's son Babhruvahana is shown in the nether regions trying to seize the gem that will restore his father to life. It is guarded by serpents that must be vanquished. The painting is signed by the artist Abdullah, and dated 1025/20 January 1616-8 January 1617. |
| Associated object | IS.25:2-1958 (Verso) |
| Bibliographic reference | STRONGE, Susan. Painting for the Mughal Emperor: The Art of the Book 1560 – 1660 London : V&A Publications, 2002. 192p, ill. ISBN 1 85177 358 4.
p. 94, pl.61
Asok Kumar Das, 'Notes on four illustrations of the Birla Razmnama and their counterparts in other Razmnama manuscripts', in Rosemary Crill, Susan Stronge and Andrew Topsfield, eds, Arts of Mughal India. Studies in Honour of Robert Skelton, Victoria and Albert Museum/Mapin Publishing, 2004, 67-79. Illustrated fig. 11, p. 77. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.25-1958 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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