Accession Number
1980/2.306

Title
Fragment from a Markendeya Purana scroll: Vishnu on the pipal leaf

Artist(s)
Indian

Artist Nationality
Indian (South Asian)

Object Creation Date
late 18th century

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

Dimensions
44 5/8 in x 44 1/4 in x 1 1/4 in (113.35 cm x 112.4 cm x 3.18 cm);44 5/8 in x 44 1/4 in x 1 1/4 in (113.35 cm x 112.4 cm x 3.18 cm)

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

Label copy
March 28, 2009
This image of Vishnu awakening was once part of a long vertical scroll, which would have been carried from village to village by an itinerant performer and unrolled to the measured cadence of verses, songs, and chants describing the events depicted. The original scroll may have been thirty feet long, and such performances would likely have continued through the night before a rapt audience. The section preserved here shows the moment of creation as described in ancient Hindu texts: as the god Vishnu awakens on his giant pipal leaf his navel sprouts a lotus, which in turn yields Brahma, the god of creation. Above Vishnu’s reclining body, four sages occupy smaller leaves, framing the episode within a rhythmic arc.
(Label for UMMA South and Southeast Asia Gallery Opening Rotation, March 2009)

Subject matter
This is Bhavana[rsi] who is the progenitor of the weaver cast that commissioned these long scrolls, about 28 feet long with various scenes. The Ahmedabad one has 26, while the example in the Mittal collection has 22. The Ahmedabad one begins with the trinity and then Ganesa, while the earlier one begins with Ganesa.
No big rulers associated with these commissions. The artists were apparently the same as the ones that did work for the bigger patrons and quite adept. Northern Andhra is the area, so Varangal is largest city, but the painters are from smaller towns nearby.
Jagdish Mittal has some, Salar Jung, and Seattle pieces are cut up as are the ones in this collection. Perhaps today ome of the fragments, and perhaps whole scrolls, have lost the connection with the Markendeya iconography and have modern caste connections to the tales.
The University of Michigan scroll fragments are closer to the Ahmedabad example with figures more stick like and not rounded like the earlier example. A date of the late 18th century then is possible. In fact the style seems virtually identical in every way.

Physical Description
The blue four-armed Vishnu is shown lying on a gigantic pipal leaf with his left leg crossed over his right leg; as his female consort gently strokes his leg, he awakens from a long sleep. Another woman fans him. From his navel sprouts a lotus, bearing the four-headed creator god, Brahma, and rishis or sages appear in the upper branches of the pipal tree. Vishnu has four arms carrying a discus and a conch in his back hands and the lower left arm is extended pointing towards the women at his feet while the lower right am is cross towards his stomach.
The iconography is further compounded by the image in the lower register of a tortoise at the bottom of the ocean of milk, bearing a mountain on his back. The tortoise is in fact Kurma, another manifestation of Vishnu, supporting the cosmic axis. Elephants have gathered to pay homage to him, while in a small inset at right, a worshipper pays homage to Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. A large red figure faces the scene to the right accompanied by small blue figures to his sides as if behind him. Two sages, one horse-headed, are to the upper right.

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
elephants