Vishnu and Gajendra thumbnail 1
Not on display

Vishnu and Gajendra

Painting
ca. 1830 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Kangra (made)

Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Gajendra moksha, Vishnu saves the elephant king, Gajendra, from the crocodile, while the elephant herd sport nearby. Garuda stands in worship with a serpent between his hands, symbolising the victory of the solar principle over the water creature (which takes place in the ensuing conflict).

Object details

Categories
Paintings
Hinduism
Paintings
Animals and Wildlife
Bonita Trust Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project
Object type
Painting
TitleVishnu and Gajendra (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Opaque Watercolour
Paper
Paint
Gold
Painted
Brief description
Painting, Gajendra moksha, Vishnu saves the elephant king, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Kangra, ca. 1830
Physical description
Painting, in opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Gajendra moksha, Vishnu saves the elephant king, Gajendra, from the crocodile, while the elephant herd sport nearby. Garuda stands in worship with a serpent between his hands, symbolising the victory of the solar principle over the water creature (which takes place in the ensuing conflict).
Dimensions
  • Height: 343mm
  • Width: 264mm
  • Image within innermost painted borders height: 245mm
  • Image within innermost painted borders width: 224mm
05/06/2013 dimensions measured as part of Indian Paintings Cataloguing Project 2013
Content description
Vishnu saves the elephant king, Gajendra, from the crocodile, while the elephant herd sport nearby. Garuda stands in worship with a serpent between his hands, symbolising the victory of the solar principle over the water creature (which takes place in the ensuing conflict).
Style
Pahari
Gallery label
(27/9/2013)
VISHNU SAVES THE ELEPHANT KING
Opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Kangra, Punjab Hills
c. 1830
IS.191-1955
Purchased with the assistance of
the Art Fund
In this scene, Gajendra moksha, the king of
the elephants has been seized by a monstrous crocodile. Other elephants scatter in terror into the forest but the god Vishnu rescues the elephant-king. He holds three of his attributes (conch shell, mace and lotus) and has just thrown his flaming chakra (discus) at the crocodile. The man-eagle Garuda, Vishnu’s vahana or ‘vehicle’, stands reverently behind him. Garuda is a solar symbol and vanquisher of snakes.
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support
Subjects depicted
Elephant
Deities
Crocodile
Serpents
Vishnu
Gajendra
Garuda
Collection
South & South East Asia Collection
Accession number
IS.191-1955

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Record createdOctober 30, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O68972/vishnu-and-gajendra-painting-unknown/
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