Cleveland Museum of Art

Feast where Vishnu decides he will incarnate as King Dasharatha’s sons, from Chapters 14–15 of the "Bala Kanda" (Book of Childhood) of a Ramayana (Rama’s Journey)

Date

c. 1810

Medium

Gum tempera and gold on paper

Culture

Northern India, Pahari kingdoms

Department

Indian and Southeast Asian Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The women’s quarters of a palace occupy the right side of the composition. In the courtyard to the left, gods, including the blue Vishnu, four-headed Brahma, Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Indra with eyes all over his body, and Shiva with snakes in his hair who sits with his minions, feast on food served on plates and bowls of leaves. Vishnu and Indra have taken off their crowns for the meal; the crowns are guarded on raised platforms in the background. The Pahari artist has depicted Dhaam, a local feast prepared by hereditary priest-chefs in accordance with strict Hindu rules of nutritional purity. Vishnu and Indra have taken off their crowns for the meal; the crowns are being guarded on raised platforms in the background.

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