Important Notice

Kota School
Late 19th Century
Natural pigments on paper
7.75 x 10.5 in (19.5 x 26.5 cm)

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY



This sketch shows Lord Shiva seated crossed legged at the centre of the composition, with Ganga (shown on his matted hair) spouting water from her mouth which becomes the eponymous river that is depicted here across much of the foreground. The meandering river passes Saint Kapila (seated crossed legged atop a hill), who had cursed King Bhagiratha’s family, and a number of people (some of the 60,000 uncles of Bhagiratha who were cursed) are shown seated around him, praying and greeting him with hands folded in the namaste mudra. A horse shown grazing at the foothills is the sacrificial horse used by Bhagiratha’s ancestors for an Ashwamedha Yagna (ancient Vedic ritual involving a white stallion) which had ostensibly displeased Saint Kapila. To the left of the frame, Lord Vishnu with his four arms and associated attributes is shown greeting either Bhagiratha or his guru Trithala. The proportions of the characters in this composition vary depending on their stature and significance in the story. Lord Shiva is seen at the largest scale followed by Lord Vishnu and Saint Kapila. Bhagiratha is seen as a relatively smaller figure while his ancestors are rendered the smallest of them all. A large part of the composition and its foreground are marked to suggest the abundant waters of the Ganga.

Kota School
Late 19th Century
Natural pigments on paper
7.75 x 10.5 in (19.5 x 26.5 cm)

NON-EXPORTABLE REGISTERED ANTIQUITY



This sketch shows Lord Shiva seated crossed legged at the centre of the composition, with Ganga (shown on his matted hair) spouting water from her mouth which becomes the eponymous river that is depicted here across much of the foreground. The meandering river passes Saint Kapila (seated crossed legged atop a hill), who had cursed King Bhagiratha’s family, and a number of people (some of the 60,000 uncles of Bhagiratha who were cursed) are shown seated around him, praying and greeting him with hands folded in the namaste mudra. A horse shown grazing at the foothills is the sacrificial horse used by Bhagiratha’s ancestors for an Ashwamedha Yagna (ancient Vedic ritual involving a white stallion) which had ostensibly displeased Saint Kapila. To the left of the frame, Lord Vishnu with his four arms and associated attributes is shown greeting either Bhagiratha or his guru Trithala. The proportions of the characters in this composition vary depending on their stature and significance in the story. Lord Shiva is seen at the largest scale followed by Lord Vishnu and Saint Kapila. Bhagiratha is seen as a relatively smaller figure while his ancestors are rendered the smallest of them all. A large part of the composition and its foreground are marked to suggest the abundant waters of the Ganga.