Shiva and Andhaka
Painting
ca. 1590 (made)
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.
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 | |
Title | Shiva 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 |
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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
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Collection | |
Accession number | IS.7-1970 |
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Record created | June 25, 2009 |
Record URL |
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