Accession Number
1980/2.305

Title
Fragment from Markendeya Purana: Vishnu Reclining on a Serpent

Artist(s)
Indian

Artist Nationality
Indian (South Asian)

Object Creation Date
Late 18th century

Medium & Support
ink, watercolor, and gold on cloth

Dimensions
34 5/8 in x 34 1/16 in (87.95 cm x 86.52 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel and Dr. and Mrs. Steven J. Figiel

Label copy
Fragment from Markendeya purana: Vishnu reclining on a serpent
India, Northern Andhra Pradesh
late 18th century
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on cloth
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Leo S. Figiel and Dr. and Mrs. Steven J. Figiel, 1980/2.305 

The Markandeya Purana is one of the puranas, a series of texts compiled by about the fifth century CE that relate narratives about the Hindu gods and contain centuries of traditional wisdom. Part of the Markandeya Purana is said to be an account of the visions of the sage Markandeya, including this scene of the moment of the world’s creation. The four-armed Vishnu is shown lying on the serpent Ananta (“the endless one”), resting on the surface of the cosmic ocean. As his female consort gently strokes his leg, Vishnu awakens from a long sleep. From his navel sprouts a lotus, bearing the four-headed creator god, Brahma, who will begin a new cycle of the universe.

This painting is one of three in UMMA’s collection that were originally part of a long vertical scroll that would have been carried from village to village by itinerant storytellers. The storyteller would unroll one large scene each evening and vocally reenact the scene, interspersing a traditional recitation about the gods with current village gossip. The fact that the painting is purpose-made for oral recitation allows the artist to create a more complex composition, with many imbedded subplots. The large scale, simplified drawing, and bold colors make this painting especially appropriate for outdoor viewing from a distance.

Subject matter
The Markandeya Purana is one of the puranas, a series of texts compiled by about the fifth century C.E. that relate narratives about the Hindu gods and embody centuries of traditional wisdom. Part of the Markandeya Purana is said to be an account of the visions of the sage Markandeya, including this scene of the moment of creation of the world.

This painting is one of three in the Museum’s collection that were originally part of a single long vertical scroll that would have been carried from village to village by itinerant storytellers. The storyteller would unroll one large scene each evening and vocally re-enact the scene, interspersing a traditional recitation about the gods with current village gossip. The fact that the painting is purpose-made for oral recitation allows the artist to create a more complex composition, with many imbedded subplots. The large scale, simplified drawing, and bold colors make this painting especially appropriate for outdoor viewing from a distance.

Physical Description
The four-armed Vishnu is shown lying on the serpent Ananta (“the endless one”), resting on the surface of the cosmic ocean. As his female consort gently strokes his leg, Vishnu awakens from a long sleep. From his navel sprouts a lotus, bearing the four-headed creator god, Brahma, who will begin a new cycle of the universe.

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Primary Object Type
narrative painting

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
Fish
Hinduism
Vishnu
fish (animals)
painting (coating)
scrolls (information artifacts)
seas
serpents
serpents (aerophones)