Shrinathji Pichwai Painting - Maha Raas of Srinathji (Krishna)
Picchwai painting of Maharaas Leela of Shrinathji. An outstanding Srinathji Pichwai painting for sale online. The Pichwai depicts Srinathji (Krishna) amidst Gopis, the cowherd-women of Vraja in Vridavan. This theme is based on the Maharaas of Srinathji, a sublime theme as mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam, one the of eighteen Puranas. <br> <br>Notice the subtle colors used in the Pichwai painting and the many Gopis painted painstakingly without any compromise on details. The flora in the background is coloured in beautiful shades of Green. The cloth used has an ornate background. All colours are natural colors obtained by grinding natural stone of different hues. <br> <br>Celestials such as Shiva and Indra (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 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. <br> <br>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. <br> <br><a href="https://www.cottage9.com/art-technique/art-of-pichwai-painting/">Pichwai art</a> 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. <br> <br>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. <br> <br>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. <br> <br>Srinathji is therefore pampered with choicest of delicacies, rich garments by doting devotees throughout the day with elaborate rituals and procedures. All our Pichwai paintings for sale are rendered on cotton cloth and hand-painted by traditional Pichwai artists.
