Accession Number
2008/2.288

Title
Picchvai

Artist(s)
Indian

Artist Nationality
Indian (South Asian)

Object Creation Date
1700-1850

Medium & Support
ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on cloth

Dimensions
70 in x 52 3/4 in (177.8 cm x 133.99 cm)

Credit Line
Gift from the collection of Robert B. Jacobs

Label copy
Picchvai
India

18th to 19th century
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on cloth
Gift from the collection of Robert B. Jacobs, 2008/2.288
Picchvais are textiles that adorn the walls of shrines dedicated to
Krishna, the Hindu deity of compassion and love. These works
depicting scenes from Krishna’s life were produced as brocades,
embroideries, or in this case, paintings on fabric. Specific
picchvais that reflect the time of day, season, or even the deity’s
mood are used for different rituals.
This work shows Srinathji, a manifestation of Krishna, depicted
in dark blue, and with his half-brother Balarama in the course
of traveling on Mount Govardhan. When they encounter gopis
(cow-herding girls), both Krishna and Balarama demand a toll of
milk in exchange for their protection. As Krishna tugs on a gopi’s
garments, milk spills from the pot she carries on her head. Below,
the monkeys and cow-herding males enjoy the spoils of this
confrontation. This event is closely associated with celebrations
of the “Festival of the Toll,” or Dānalīlā .

Subject matter
Picchvai, painted devotional hangings, are often commissioned for a public temple or private or portable shrines. They represent scenes from the life of the Hindu deity Krishna (always depicted as blue) and are commonly used as a backdrop to statues of Krishna himself. In this work, Krishna appears in the form of Srinathji, a manifestation commonly worshipped by the Hindu sect Vallabhalharya Sampradayala. The scene depicted shows Krishna and his half-brother Balarama as they encounter gopis (cow-herding girls) while traveling on Mount Govardhan; in exchange for their protection, Krishna and Balarama demand a toll of milk from the gopis. As Krishna tugs on the garments of a gopi, milk spills from the pot she carries on her head. Below, the monkeys who inhabit the mountain and some cow-herding males enjoy the spoils of this confrontation.
Gallery Rotation Spring 2011

Physical Description
Painting on cloth in an array of colors that depicts a religious scene. There are assorted animals such as monkeys and cows with red hand prints on them.
There is a river at the fore of the painting with flowers and lily pads in it. The painting has a colorful floral border.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
narrative painting

Additional Object Classification(s)
Textile

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Hinduism
cows (mammals)
devotional images (religious works)
monkeys (animals)