Artwork Page for Sacrificial Fire, from the "Tula Ram" Bhagavata Purana

Details / Information for Sacrificial Fire, from the "Tula Ram" Bhagavata Purana

Sacrificial Fire, from the "Tula Ram" Bhagavata Purana

c. 1720

Western India, Gujarat, Surat

Medium
Gum tempera, ink, and gold on paper
Measurements
Overall: 25.4 x 21.5 cm (10 x 8 7/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of John D. Proctor 1990.40
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

The sage Narada in the upper right corner plays a stringed instrument called a vina.

Description

The evil king Kamsa organized a fire sacrifice in order to bring about the death of his brother-in-law, Vasudeva, father of the Hindu god incarnated as Krishna. The four-armed god of creation, Brahma, attends at the upper left with the sage, or holy man, Narada at the upper right.

Scholars have linked the copious floral motifs throughout this dispersed series with textile patterns. This series was created in a port city, the center of flourishing international textile trade.
A vertically oriented gum tempera and ink painting depicts nine figures with medium-light skin tones gathered around a central vessel of flickering orange flames. Against a dark blue background filled with stylized red and pink flowers, a four-headed, four-armed deity sits at the top left. Figures in vibrant robes occupy three rows, while a small black elephant stands at the bottom right. An ornate orange border frames the scene, topped by script.

Sacrificial Fire, from the "Tula Ram" Bhagavata Purana

c. 1720

Western India, Gujarat, Surat

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