Description
Antique style Pichwai painting of Shrinathji by master artists of Nathdwara. Shrinath means master of Sri or Lakshmi – the goddess of wealth. Shrinathji’s idol is self-manifested from Govardhana hill. It is that of child Krishna with one hand behind his back and other raised to hold Govardhana as a shelter to save inhabitants of Vraja from the wrath of Indra. Read about the art of Pichwai paintings here.
It was Shri Vallabhacharya, renowned Vaishnava saint who named the idol of child Krishna as Shrinathji. He was also the propounder of the philosophy of Pushti Marg around which all all activities at Nathdwara Haveli are centred. Shri Vallabhacharya installed Shrinathji in a haveli (Rajasthani house) in Nathdwara much like Krishna’s own house in Vrindavan. Here Shrinathji was much looked after by Vallabhacharya like Krishna was looked after by his foster parents Sri Nanda and Yashoda.
Antique style Pichwai painting of Shrinathji by master artists of Nathdwara. Shrinathji was worshipped by Sri Vallabhacharya with traditional Vaishnava rituals as per the shastras but on the lines of his philosophy of Pushti Marg. Pushti Marg holds that Shri Krishna is the supreme lord and all the beings are there to render him service in love. This philosophy acknowledges complete difference in Brahman and Jiva (supreme and being) where jiva derives its fulfilment in serving the Brahman who is Sri Krishna.
Since Shrinathji is in the form of a child Shri Vallabhacharya looked after him like an affectionate parent would. The entire routine with rituals and traditions was centred around Shrinathji, which is followed till date at Srinathji’s haveli in Nathdwara. Shrinathji is fed the choicest of delicacies and dressed in best attire and jewellery.
He is allowed his time to play and rest. Accordingly Shrinathji’s haveli accommodates and stocks everything needed to serve Shrinathji. It has a chariot, a store room for milk (Doodhghar), a store room for betel (Paanghar), a store room for sugar and sweetmeats (Mishrighar and Pedaghar), a store room for flowers (Phoolghar), a functional kitchen (Rasoighar), a jewellery room (Gahnaghar), a treasury (Kharcha bhandaar), a stable for horses of chariot (Ashvashala), a drawing room (Baithak), a gold and silver grinding wheel (Chakki).
Shrinathji is dressed up eight times a day in different attires and since ages artists have been creating paintings on cloth to beautify the background of Shrinathji’s form. These paintings were called Pichwais, derived from he Hindi word ‘peche’ which means ‘back’. These paintings were frequently discarded after use and people would use these to decorate the walls of their homes. In time these paintings evolved in a genre called Pichwai.
Gradually artists started painting the form of Shrinathji along with other designs and these came about to be sold independently. These artists would live in and around Shrinathji’s haveli in Nathdwara and still do. The art of Pichwai making has developed into a small but well sought after cottage industry. The artists maintain high-level purity in creating these Pichwai paintings. They only use organic colours and real gold or silver paints as needed.
This painting is one such Pichwai created by traditional artists of Nathdwara haveli of Shrinathji. Here Shrinathji is seen dressed at the time of Rajbhog – which is his mid-day meal – and he is comfortably resting. This is also the time when Shrinathji is most royally and regally dressed up. Here he is seen blue hued, bedecked in rich jewellery and robes. Since he has just finished his lunch there is betel leaves and other mouth freshness placed before him. This Pichwai is created in traditional antique style.
Special Comments
A dazzling Pichwai of Shrinathji in antique style by a master artist.