Khatchakra
Artist
Krishnanand Jha
(Indian, 1938 - 2018)
Place of OriginBihar state, India
Date1982
MaterialsInk and colors on paper
DimensionsH. 30 in x W. 22 1/2 in, H. 76.20 cm x W. 57.15 cm
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Object number1999.39.42
DepartmentSouth Asian Art
ClassificationsPainting
On View
Not on viewKrishna Nand Jha is one of the senior male artists represented in this exhibition. Son of a tantric priest and himself a practitioner of esoteric Hinduism, he favors tantric representations of ascetics and deities as his subjects.
In this painting, we see a highly stylized figure of a meditating ascetic seated on an animal skin. The beast’s head and two paws appear at the painting’s lower frame, and its other two legs frame the ascetic’s head. The ascetic is in a cross-legged posture; his legs and feet are rendered in pinkish hues near the bottom of the image. His eyes are wide open, suggesting his state of heightened awareness. Seven energy centers (chakras) of the body are marked along the center of the figure, and a radiant halo crowns his head.
In this painting, we see a highly stylized figure of a meditating ascetic seated on an animal skin. The beast’s head and two paws appear at the painting’s lower frame, and its other two legs frame the ascetic’s head. The ascetic is in a cross-legged posture; his legs and feet are rendered in pinkish hues near the bottom of the image. His eyes are wide open, suggesting his state of heightened awareness. Seven energy centers (chakras) of the body are marked along the center of the figure, and a radiant halo crowns his head.
