Golconda paintings: the pichhvai tradition

Golconda paintings : the pichhvai tradition

    The kingdom of Golconda has produced many pichhvai paintings. Originally this art is popular among the Vallabhaite sect in Narthdwara, Rajasthan. Since merchants and traders of this sect came from Rajasthan and Gujarat to the kingdom of Golconda, they brought their art with them. A pichhvai is a decorative hanging in cloth behind the main deity , a form of Krishna; Srinathji, inside the temples.Lord Krishna is a much loved deity among the Hindus in India.He is also an important character in the epic Mahabharata.
  
   The Nathdwara pichhvais depicted Lord Krishna as Srinathji. However the ones produced at Golconda, the depiction is of the Deccan-Maratha style. Though the local artist copied the Rajasthani tradition the Deccan stamp is present.The gopis or cowherd maidens are also slightly different by being more slender and taller. The cows depicted have longer bodies to match the gopis. The gopis are seen in typical Deccan way of dress and jewellery, the foliage is lush,umbrella type with straight tree trunks. The tree is most likely the kadamba tree, associated with Lord Krishna. 

        The pichhvai depicted below is dyed cotton with polychrome and  gold work. It represntative of the Dana-lila in which the gopis have to give a dana or toll to Lord Krishna . It could range from an embrace to a pot of milk ! The gopis are however feigning resistance to Krishna and are look surprised in the scene.The scene is almost mystical with a dream like quality. Peacocks are depicted along with parrots and some other coloured birds. There also is shown the silent showering of fragrant flowers like the chameli and champa from the sky on Krishna and the gopis. On the right below is seen Krishna nad Radha along with the cows who seem to be looking up to them, very much a part of the scene. The cut portion is actually meant for the space where the deity would be placed for worship.

Pichhvai from Golconda, late 17th century, Honolulu Museum of Art,USA.


See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons









References :

1. Art and architecture of Qutub Shahi times/Meena Kumari, V./Delhi : B. R Publishing Corporation,2014.
2. Golconda and Hyderabad/Safrani,Shehbaz.H,ed.Bombay : Marg Publications,1992.

Posted by :

Soma Ghosh

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