View of the Jagannatha Temple, Puri thumbnail 1
View of the Jagannatha Temple, Puri thumbnail 2
Not on display

View of the Jagannatha Temple, Puri

Painting
1670 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This painting on cloth (pata), done in the Orissan style, depicts the famous Jagannatha Temple in Puri, Orissa. Jagannatha, "Lord of the Universe", is a form of Krishna around whom a highly popular cult emerged in Puri, attracting devotees from distant parts of India and establishing the city as a major pilgrim centre. The cult spread to Bengal and Assam and, judging from the evidence of this painting, to Nepal. Workshops producing devotional paintings for pilgrims prospered around the temple in Puri. This painting depicts the Jagannatha temple in all its complexity, with the sanctuary housing the triad of Jagannatha, Balabadra (Balarama) and Subhadra beneath the Orissan-style tower, the pillared hall to the left in which the Raja of Puri performs darshana, attended in priests and dancing devadasi. The numerous secondary shrines and other features of the temple grounds, such as the holy bathing place for the deities, are depicted in detail.

A remarkable feature of this painting is that although it was most probably executed at Puri, it was sent to Nepal to mark a festival ritual performed by the ruler of Bhaktapur. The painting bears a Newari inscription, visible on the tower (sikhara) of the temple, identifying the donors and the ceremony this painting was commissioned to celebrate, the performing of the Avanta ceremony in honour of Visnu on the 14th day of Bradra (August-September) in the year Samvat 790 (= 1670). The donor's title, Sri Jagaccandramalla, refers to king Jagatprakasamalla, the ruler of Bhaktapur from 1643 to 1672, and to his chief minister Candrasekhara Simha, who ruled jointly under this title. A portraits of the donors is to be found in the double-headed seated figure seen lower right, accompanied by members of the Bhaktapur royal family.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleView of the Jagannatha Temple, Puri (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Gouache on cotton
Brief description
Painting, Jagannatha temple at Puri, painted in Bhaktapur, Nepal, gouache on cotton, 1670
Physical description
This painting, done in the Orissan style, depicts the famous Jagannatha Temple in Puri, Orissa. Painted with water-based pigment on cotton cloth.
Dimensions
  • Height: 115cm
  • Width: 82cm
Style
Historical context
This painting, done in the Orissan style, depicts the famous Jagannatha Temple in Puri, Orissa. Jagannatha, "Lord of the Universe", is a form of Krisna around whom a highly popular cult emerged in Puri, attracting devotees from distant parts of India and establishing the city as a major pilgrim centre. The cult spread to Bengal and Assam. In Nepal temples dedicated to Jagannatha were erected. This painting bears a Newari inscription, visible on the tower (sikhara) of the temple, identifying the donors and the ceremony this painting was commissioned to celebrate. The donor's title, Sri Jagaccandramalla, refers to king Jagatprakasamalla, the ruler of Bhaktapur from 1643 to 1672, and to his chief minister Candrasekhara Simha, who appear to have ruled jointly under this title. The painting celebrates the performing of the Avanta ceremony in honour of Visnu on the 14th day of Bradra (August - September) in the year Samvat 790 (1670 A.D).
Production
Bhaktapur, Nepal
Subjects depicted
Summary
This painting on cloth (pata), done in the Orissan style, depicts the famous Jagannatha Temple in Puri, Orissa. Jagannatha, "Lord of the Universe", is a form of Krishna around whom a highly popular cult emerged in Puri, attracting devotees from distant parts of India and establishing the city as a major pilgrim centre. The cult spread to Bengal and Assam and, judging from the evidence of this painting, to Nepal. Workshops producing devotional paintings for pilgrims prospered around the temple in Puri. This painting depicts the Jagannatha temple in all its complexity, with the sanctuary housing the triad of Jagannatha, Balabadra (Balarama) and Subhadra beneath the Orissan-style tower, the pillared hall to the left in which the Raja of Puri performs darshana, attended in priests and dancing devadasi. The numerous secondary shrines and other features of the temple grounds, such as the holy bathing place for the deities, are depicted in detail.

A remarkable feature of this painting is that although it was most probably executed at Puri, it was sent to Nepal to mark a festival ritual performed by the ruler of Bhaktapur. The painting bears a Newari inscription, visible on the tower (sikhara) of the temple, identifying the donors and the ceremony this painting was commissioned to celebrate, the performing of the Avanta ceremony in honour of Visnu on the 14th day of Bradra (August-September) in the year Samvat 790 (= 1670). The donor's title, Sri Jagaccandramalla, refers to king Jagatprakasamalla, the ruler of Bhaktapur from 1643 to 1672, and to his chief minister Candrasekhara Simha, who ruled jointly under this title. A portraits of the donors is to be found in the double-headed seated figure seen lower right, accompanied by members of the Bhaktapur royal family.
Bibliographic references
  • Guy, John: 'Indian Temple Sculpture', London V & A Publication, 2007, 87. pl.95. ISBN 971851775095
  • L'escultura en el temples indis : l'art de la devoció : exposició organitzada per la Fundació "La Caixa" i el Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres. [Barcelona: Obra social, Fundació "la Caixa", c2007 Number: 9788476649466 p.224, Cat.177
Collection
Accession number
IS.64-1985

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdFebruary 13, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest