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Maharao Durjan Sal of Kota Plaiting Krishna's Hair
View through Harvard Museums
The painting depicts Maharao Durjan Sal of Kota (r. 1723-1756) plaiting Krishna’s hair. The Maharao is distinguished by his double-pearl earring, elaborate dress and jewelry, and halo bordering his profile. Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, revered as a god in his own right. The enthroned blue-skinned deity also bears double-pearl earring, jewelry, and halo. Krishna gesters to a priest seated cross-legged in front of him, who wears a translucent shawl and white skirt. Three other figures face Krishna, either seated or standing. An attendant near the throne carries a long sword over his left shoulder. Behind Durjan Sal is an attendant carrying a fan made of peacock feathers.
The depiction of Krishna refers to Brijnathji, a local form of Krishna that was the family deity of the royal family of Kota. Brijnathji is frequently rendered either accompanying a ruler or participating in Kota courtly activities, conflates the deity with the ruler, fostering the concept of the “divine king”, and demonstrates a direct relationship between the king and god. Rajput Style.
Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum Gift in gratitude to John Coolidge Gift of Leslie Cheek Jr. Anonymous Fund in memory of Henry Berg Louise Haskell Daly Alpheus Hyatt Richard Norton Memorial Funds and through the generosity of Albert H. Gordon and Emily Rauh Pulitzer; formerly in the collection of Stuart Cary Welch Jr.
Title: Maharao Durjan Sal of Kota Plaiting Krishna's Hair
Description:
The painting depicts Maharao Durjan Sal of Kota (r.
1723-1756) plaiting Krishna’s hair.
The Maharao is distinguished by his double-pearl earring, elaborate dress and jewelry, and halo bordering his profile.
Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu, revered as a god in his own right.
The enthroned blue-skinned deity also bears double-pearl earring, jewelry, and halo.
Krishna gesters to a priest seated cross-legged in front of him, who wears a translucent shawl and white skirt.
Three other figures face Krishna, either seated or standing.
An attendant near the throne carries a long sword over his left shoulder.
Behind Durjan Sal is an attendant carrying a fan made of peacock feathers.
The depiction of Krishna refers to Brijnathji, a local form of Krishna that was the family deity of the royal family of Kota.
Brijnathji is frequently rendered either accompanying a ruler or participating in Kota courtly activities, conflates the deity with the ruler, fostering the concept of the “divine king”, and demonstrates a direct relationship between the king and god.
Rajput Style.
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