Testing the royal couple's Devotion to Vishnu
Artist
Vinita Jha
(Indian)
Place of OriginBihar state, India
Date2015
MaterialsInk and colors on paper
DimensionsH. 22 3/8 in x W. 30 3/8 in, H. 56.8 cm x W. 77.2 cm
Credit LineAcquisition made possible by the George Hopper Fitch Bequest
Object number2016.124
DepartmentSouth Asian Art
ClassificationsPainting
On View
Not on viewReligious stories about the gods and tales from the Hindu epics are among the favored subjects for artist Vinita Jha. Here, she depicts what may be a local story derived from an episode of the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, describing a royal couple’s deep devotion to the god Vishnu. The narrative is organized in four compartments and is read clockwise from the upper left.
The first panel shows the king and queen in the palace with their small son between them. In the next panel, a holy man comes to them and tests their faith by asking for their son as a sacrifice. He demands they cut their son in two. After the parents dutifully comply, their son is restored to them and they rejoice with a feast (last two panels). Stories such as this advocate and celebrate values of religious piety, personal sacrifice, and selflessness and promise rewards from such conduct.
The first panel shows the king and queen in the palace with their small son between them. In the next panel, a holy man comes to them and tests their faith by asking for their son as a sacrifice. He demands they cut their son in two. After the parents dutifully comply, their son is restored to them and they rejoice with a feast (last two panels). Stories such as this advocate and celebrate values of religious piety, personal sacrifice, and selflessness and promise rewards from such conduct.
