Mahabharata – Shishupala insulting Krishna
The great proprietary sacrifices were celebrated in rich pavilions specially built by the great architects. The show of opulence was part of the ritual, offered in gratitude to the Lord, to acknowledge His supremacy and invoke protection and prosperity for every citizen. Maharaja Yudhisthira asked Lord Krishna to preside the great Ashwamedha Yajna (the ancient Horse Sacrifice).
The painting depicts the liberation of Shishupala, a powerful and cruel character. You can distinguish the main character of the epic event such as Yudhishthira on Krishna’s left with imperial garments, in the foreground Arjuna with his bow and Bhima with the mace. Right behind them are the two great sages – Bhishmadeva, the great grandfather of the Mahabharata; and the ancient Parashurama, the mystic presence of another Vishnu avatar coming from another era.
£ 160.00 – £ 775.00
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Mahabharata – The Rush of the Hero
£ 165.00 – £ 755.00 BUYBhismadeva, also called Pitamaha – the patriarch, is an oxymoron between old age and his surprising agility and superhuman strength. Fate and code of honour had decided that he was to stand against the Pandavas. Even as he was fighting them in his heart he was on their side.
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Mahabharata – O Brother – Bhima and Hanuman
£ 155.00 – £ 780.00 BUYThis is the moment when the two most important epic tales of India entwine. The elder brother Hanuman – the divine monkey, meets the younger Bhima in a singular pastime with a final explosion of affection! Hanuman is Bhima’s half-brother, son of Vayu. He is a great warrior and the very embodiment of devotion to Rama, an incarnation of Krishna.
The wild forest is the timeless context of a scene that sees the aged Hanuman meeting his strong brother Bhima. The artist wanted to play with the unusual proportions of the characters as Bhima describes the creature to be ”the biggest monkey he ever saw.”. You can see by contrast, the endeavour that Bhima is making to move Hanuman’s tail and the lazy tired face of the gigantic monkey almost indifferent to this action. There is for sure a link between the intricate elements of the forest and the intrigue of the whole Mahabharata.
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Mahabharata – Kunti and Draupadi
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Although Maharaja Draupada’s daughter was elegantly dressed she submits herself to the role of respecting her future mother in law. She was promised to be the wife of the five Pandava brothers, but first she needed to be accepted by their mother!