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Shiva and Andhaka

Painting
ca. 1590 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This illustration was originally in a Persian manuscript recounting the life of the Hindu god, Lord Krishna. The Persian translation of the Sanskrit text was made by order of the Mughal emperor Akbar, and the painting probably dates to c. 1590. The manuscript was broken up at an unknown date, and this page is one of a group that were given ornate borders for inclusion in an album, probably in Lucknow in the 18th century.
This painting depicts Shiva, the divine yogi who shares with Vishnu a supreme role among the gods of Hinduism. A demon called Andhaka had stolen a flowering creeper from a garden created by Shiva, who follows him and decapitates him.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleShiva and Andhaka (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted in opaque watercolour and gold on paper
Brief description
Painting, Harivamsa,Shiva destroys Andhaka, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, Mughal, ca. 1590
Physical description
Painting, opaque watercolour and gold on paper, the giant demon Andhaka is being speared by Shiva in a rocky landscape surrounded by Shiva's followers. Illustration from the Harivamsa.
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.2cm
  • Width: 18.5cm
Content description
The giant demon Andhaka is being speared by Shiva in a rocky landscape surrounded by Shiva's followers.
Style
Credit line
Bequeathed by the Hon. Dame Ada Mcnaghten
Object history
Originally an illustration to the Harivamsa, the Persian translation of the Sanskrit text of the life of Krishna, and annexed to the Razmnama ("Book of War"), the Persian translation of the Mahabharata.
Production
The borders are later additions, probably done in Lucknow in the 18th century
Subjects depicted
Summary
This illustration was originally in a Persian manuscript recounting the life of the Hindu god, Lord Krishna. The Persian translation of the Sanskrit text was made by order of the Mughal emperor Akbar, and the painting probably dates to c. 1590. The manuscript was broken up at an unknown date, and this page is one of a group that were given ornate borders for inclusion in an album, probably in Lucknow in the 18th century.
This painting depicts Shiva, the divine yogi who shares with Vishnu a supreme role among the gods of Hinduism. A demon called Andhaka had stolen a flowering creeper from a garden created by Shiva, who follows him and decapitates him.
Bibliographic reference
Robert Skelton, "Mughal Paintings fromHarivamsa Manuscript", V&A Yearbook, no. 2, 1970
Collection
Accession number
IS.7-1970

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Record createdJune 25, 2009
Record URL
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