Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra

$190
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6 to 8 weeks
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$38 (20%)
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$152
Item Code: PL59
Artist: Rabi Behera
Specifications:
Paata Painting on Tussar Silk FabricFolk Art from the Temple Town of Puri (Orissa)Artist Rabi Behera
Dimensions 42.0 inches X 28.0 inches
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
Fair trade
Fair trade
This excellent pata-chitra: a painting on cloth, rendered using a few colours, black, blue, grey, pink and white in particular, represents Krishna as Jagannatha, the enshrining deity of the worldwide venerated Puri shrine, one of the four major Vaishnava shrines of Krishna-cult, the other three being Vrindavana in Uttar Pradesh, Nathadwara in Rajasthan and Dwarika in Gujarat. Besides the blue-bodied Krishna as Jagannatha in the centre the painting also portrays Krishna’s elder brother the fair complexioned Balarama on the top and the tiny figure of his younger sister Subhadra in his lap. The painting has been rendered on a piece of cloth, a blend of mercerized cotton and silk used unbleached in the silk’s original colour. Most of the painting being line-drawn, a characteristic feature of Oriya iconography, use of a limited range of colours and the style of architecture, all are typical features of Orissa pata-painting.

The artist of this piece has curiously experimented in the painting with the shrine’s imagery, a form concretized over centuries. While retaining the iconographic models of the three deities : styles of eyes, roundness of faces, types of noses, body-colours, patterns of ornaments and costumes among other things, he has arranged the three figures into vertical order, not horizontally as they are actually installed in the sanctum. In this new arrangement too Krishna comprises the central figure but Balarama has shifted to the top above Krishna from his place on his right, and Subhadra occupies her seat on his lap. The artist knew that being sister Subhadra could not be portrayed under Krishna’s feet, though as younger sister she could be painted in his lap; hence, this manipulation. Apart, this placing of images in ascending order better suits a multi-layered vertical layout : the dimensions of canvas, architecture with a towering sanctum-chamber, fire-arch rising like a flame enshrining the deities etc. The Krishna’s deep blue, in Oriya tradition transformed into deep black, comprises the axis of the entire creation and draws the eye from all around.

Inclusion of Subhadra’s image, not Radha’s, in Krishna-related iconography might sound strange to contemporary mind but the worship of Krishna with Balarama and Subhadra seems to have preceded Radha’s worship by many centuries. The sculptures of the three from the early centuries of the Common Era, though not many reported so far, strongly suggest that the worship of Subhadra with Krishna must have begun during early times. Maybe, not as one of Vishnu’s incarnations, it was begun by Vrashnis, the clan Krishna belonged to, for his great deeds as the clan’s heroes. Some early texts including the Mahabharata also extol Krishna along with Balarama and Ekananga, Yashoda’s daughter and hence Krishna’s sister, as Vrashni heroes. Later, Ekananga was alternated with Subhadra. Orissa, perceiving in Krishna Jagannatha : the Lord of the entire Creation, might have inherited his image for its enshrining deity from some of such early traditions.

However, in this representation the artist, besides reverting to the ancient tradition and adhering to the live convention as pursued at Puri shrine, seems to lay greater emphasis on his figures’ Vaishnava links. The four-armed Krishna has been portrayed as holding, and quite prominently, Vishnu’s essential attributes : lotus, disc, mace and conch. A four-armed Balarama, his multi-armed form a rare visualization of his image, considered as Vishnu’s ninth incarnation also holds Vishnu’s attributes, though with lotus replaced by his identity symbol ‘plough’. However, in addition the seven hooded great serpent Shesha covering him umbrella-like over his head has been added to his iconography. Apart, the presence of Brahma on the pedestal’s right, and Indra’s, on its left, both paying homage with folded hands, further emphasize the images’ Vaishnava connections and status. The images have been installed within an architectural unit, obviously a sanctum-chamber, with a ‘shikhara’ – tower, with graded elevation and corbelled opening and all other members reflecting the characteristic Orissa temple art. With every part beautifully cast and far more beautifully painted, revealing rare beauty, architectural precision and geometrical dimensions, symmetry in particular, the sanctum by itself becomes the painting’s theme, or at least one of its major attractions. Towards its bottom lay a beautifully incised hexagonal pedestal supporting a flame-shaped fire-arch which the images of Krishna as Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra enshrine. Even a dull colour, this grey fire-arch is brilliantly coming out against a deep blue background.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.


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Mastering the Ancient Technique: Exploring the Meticulous Creation of Pattachitra Paintings

The traditional Pattachitra is a scroll painting that is done on cloth. This is revealed in the name; Pattachitra is a Sanskrit term made from two words i.e. Patta meaning cloth and Chitra meaning picture. The main subject of this painting is portraying Hindu mythological narratives, scenes from religious texts, and folktales. Pattachitra paintings are especially practiced in eastern Indian states such as West Bengal and Odisha, and also in some parts of Bangladesh. This art form is closely related to Shri Jagannath and the tradition of the Vaishnava sect. It is believed that Pattachitra art originated in the 11th century and the people of Odisha practice it even today without any discrepancy. Bengalis use these scroll paintings for ritual purposes (as a visual device) during the performance of a song or Aarti.
Pattachitra paintings are characterized by creative and traditional motifs/designs, decorative borders, and bright colorful applications. The outline of the figure and motifs are bold and sharp. Some common shapes and motifs seen in these paintings are trees, flowers, leaves, elephants, and other creatures. The artists of Odisha and Bengal still use the traditional method of painting which gives a unique look to it altogether.

1. Canvas is prepared

The process of painting a Pattachitra begins by preparing the canvas (patta). Generally, cotton cloth is used for making the canvas. The local artists dip the cotton cloth in a mixture of tamarind seeds and water for a few days. The cloth is then taken out and dried in the sun. Now natural gum is applied over it to stick another layer of cotton cloth on it. Thus a thick layer of cotton cloth is formed. This layered cotton is sun-dried and a paste of chalk powder, tamarind, and gum is applied on both sides. The surface of the cloth is then rubbed with two different stones for smoothening and it is again dried. This process gives the cloth a leathery finish and it is now ready to be painted.
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2. Natural colors are made using traditional method

The painters prepare and use vegetable and mineral colors for application in the painting. White color is made from conch shells, black is made by burning coconut shells, Hingula is used for red color, Ramaraja for blue, and Haritala for yellow.
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3. Colors are filled in

The artist now makes a double-lined border on all four sides of the canvas. The local artists are so expert in painting that they do not draw figures and motifs with pencil but directly draw them with a brush. The paint brushes that the painters use are made of the hair of domestic animals, a bunch of which is tied to the end of a bamboo stick. The figures are now painted with natural colors using the indigenous brushes. The outline is thickened with black color.
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4. Painting is given a finishing

Finally, the painting is varnished/glazed to protect it from any damage and to get a glossy shine on the surface.

The making of a Pattachitra is laborious work and therefore, one painting may sometimes take over a month to complete. Due to their classical look, these paintings are admired by people from all over the world. The artistic skills used in Pattachitra are passed down from one generation to another and thus are preserved to date.
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