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Indra, mounted on Airavata, proceeding into battle with his army

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Image of Indra, mounted on Airavata, proceeding into battle with his army

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Bookmark: https://collection.sdmart.org/objects-1/info/6288

Indra, mounted on Airavata, proceeding into battle with his army


Creation date: ca. 1840
Creation place: India

Other Information

Type: Watercolor Painting
Medium and Support: Ink, opaque watercolor and gold on paper
Credit Line: Edwin Binney 3rd Collection
Accession Number: 1990.1308
State/Province: Himachal Pradesh
Dimensions: 11 5/8 in. x 15 3/4 in. (29.5 cm x 40 cm)

Provenance

K.G. Mehra, New Delhi, India ( - December 3, 1968)

Edwin Binney 3rd, San Diego, California (December 3, 1968 - August 27, 1990)

San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, California (August 27, 1990 - )

Label Copy

Februaru 2020
Elehant in the Room
(Ladan Akbarnia)
Indra, mounted on Airavata, proceeding into battle with his army 
Page from a manuscript of the Bhagavata Purana (Ancient Tales of the Lord Vishnu), mounted on a detached album folio 
India, Himachal Pradesh, Kangra, ca. 1840 
Ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper 
Edwin Binney 3rd Collection, 1990.1308 
Characterized by his spotless white skin, five trunks, and ten tusks, Airavata carries the deity Indra, king of the gods and recognized in varied forms by Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. Indra wields his attribute, the thunderbolt Vajra, while his divine elephant appears to be portrayed with only three trunks and four tusks. While this painting illustrates a story from the Hindu sacred text, the Bhagavata Purana, both Indra and Airavata feature in numerous religious texts, providing ample context for the cultural association of white elephants with royalty and the divine in South Asia. 

 
Last Updated: 4/4/2022

Exhibition

This object was included in the following exhibitions:

Elephant in the Room: South Asian Paintings from the San Diego Museum of Art , 00/00/00 - 00/00/00

Elephant in the Room: South Asian Paintings from the San Diego Museum of Art The San Diego Museum of Art , 00/00/00 - 00/00/00

The Elephant in the Room: Indian Paintings from the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection The San Diego Museum of Art , 2/29/2020 - 7/18/2021


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