Description
Original Picchwai Painting of Shrinathji served by Gopis. This is very brightly coloured, intricate Pichwai painting depicting Srinathji (Krishna). Srinathji is flanked by Gopis on either side, each offering him loving devotional service. The devotion of cowherd-women of Vraja in Vrindavan is considered to be that of the highest order.
This is purely traditional Pichwai art. It is created with utmost regard to the Rajasthani style of Pichwai paintings of Srinathji.
Celestials such as Shiva, Indra and Brahma and others (notice on the top) are ever eager to enjoy leela (sport) of Shrinathji, who is none other than the Supreme Being. They are shown seated on their respective steeds. The flora in the background is coloured in beautiful shades of Green. All colours are natural colors obtained by grinding natural stone of different hues.
The word Srinath is a combination of two words ‘Sri’ and ‘Nath’. Sri means Lakshmi (consort of Lord Vishnu or Krishna) and Nath means Master. So ‘Srinath’ is a name of Krishna which means Master or Husband of Lakshmi. The suffix ‘Ji’ is commonly used at the end of names in North India, Rajasthan in particular, to ascribe respect to the person being referred to.
Pichwai paintings only have Srinathji for their theme and the scenes painted are mostly from Srinathji’s loving sports in Vrindavan with Gopis and cowherds. Pichwai art emerged when the cloth-sheet serving as a background behind the statue of Srinathji was beautified with Rajasthani style paintings created by devotee-artists. In-fact the word Pichwai is a derivative of the Hindi word ‘Peeche’ which means Behind.
The painters, in their dedication to Srinathji went on creating new background cloth-sheets painted with various themes for different occasions. The discarded sheets were preserved and thus started a whole genre of Rajasthani art called Pichwai and alongside emerged a team of devoted artists who would dedicate their art in service of Srinathji and keep painting for generations that continues till date. Many of these artists are still ardent devotees themselves and lead a very simple life.
Srinathji’s temple is located in Nathdwara, a small town in Rajasthan. The elaborate set of customs and procedures of offering loving service to Srinathji were founded by Vallabhcharya, an ardent devotee of Srinathji, great Sanskrit scholar and a philosopher. He founded the ‘Pushti Marg’ of devotional service to Lord Krishna wherein the Supreme Being is conceived of not as all-powerful, hard to access Brahman of the Vedas but a small, loving child in want of his devotee’s loving service.
Srinathji is therefore pampered with choicest of delicacies, rich garments by doting devotees throughout the day with elaborate rituals and procedures. All our Pichwai art for sale is rendered on cotton cloth and hand-painted by Pichwai artists.
Special Comments
All sizes are approximate.
Weight mentioned is only for calculation purposes, actual paintings are very light otherwise. Though large-sized paintings may weigh slightly over 500 gms.