Exploring Pichwai Art : A Traditional Artistic Legacy of Rajasthan

Pichwai paintings are a highly artistic style originating from the town of Nathdwara, in Rajasthan. The word “pichwai” is a portmanteau term, deriving its meaning from the amalgamation of “pich” meaning back and “wai” meaning hanging. Together these words mean ‘hanging in the back’. Initially, these paintings were made to be hung behind statues and sculptures of the deities, in temples as cloth backdrops or tapestries. 

The painting style dates back to the 17th century Nathdwara, famous for the Shrinathji temple. Shrinathji is revered as the manifestation of Lord Krishna as a 7-year-old, worshipped as a highly revered deity in the Pushti Marg tradition of the Vaishnava sect of Hinduism. 

The Pichwai art style exclusively features scenes and occasions from Lord Krishna’s life, including scenes from his birth, childhood, adventures, romantic relationships and battles. They also constitute rich elements from nature and the divine embellishing the beauty as well as adding to the meanings of the scenes. 

Let’s dive deeper and explore the significance of these themes further: 

Govardhan Puja or Annakoot

Jubilance of Annakoot Puja by Jayesh Sharma

One of the most popular themes in the Pichwai paintings is that of Govardhan Puja also known as Annakoot (the mountain of food) in Sanskrit. This festival is associated with an interesting anecdote about the young Lord Krishna! 

The people of Vrindavan, a village where Krishna used to reside with his foster mother and family, used to worship Lord Indra, the God of rain, with complete devotion, and elaborate and often extraneous rituals. These rituals included extravagant ceremonies and sacrifices, to ensure a bountiful harvest. When Krishna learnt of this, he encouraged the villagers to understand the importance of hard work and duty. 

He made them realise the redundant nature of their rituals for worshipping Lord Indra and that they should revere the Govardhan hill instead. The hill used to provide the villagers with green pastures, food, and shelter for their cattle. 

Seeing the villagers’ devotion and gratitude towards the Govardhan hill, Lord Indra, in a fit of anger, cursed the village with a barrage of torrential rains and storms for many days. This flooded the village and its residents ran frantically to seek help from Krishna. 

Krishna lifted the revered Govardhan hill with his left arm’s little finger for seven days and seven nights, to provide refuge to the villagers and their cattle. Eventually, Lord Indra realised his folly and relieved the villagers of the havoc wreaked on their village. 

Thus, the festival of Govardhan Puja is celebrated to express gratitude for nature’s bounty and devotion to Lord Krishna. 

This theme is beautifully depicted in the Pichwai paintings. A captivating image of Shrinathji is surrounded by Chappan Bhog (56 varieties of healthy vegetarian food). Special attention is also given to the imagery of Shrinathji being revered by the people of Vrindavan, highlighting their devotion to him. 

Janmashtami

(Scene of Krishna Janmashtami on the left) Shrinath Ji by Sushi Soni

Janmashtami is the day of the birth of Lord Krishna. According to the Hindu Lunar calendar, Lord Krishna was born on the eighth day of the dark lunar fortnight (Krishnapaksha) in the month of Bhadrapada (the sixth month of the Hindu calendar). 

In the Pichwai paintings that highlight this theme, an infant Lord Krishna is depicted resting in a cradle. He is gracefully adorned with jewels and splendid fabric. The devotees are depicted singing, dancing and lovingly cradling Lord Krishna, affectionately welcoming him into the world. In some paintings, Yashoda and Nanda (foster parents of Lord Krishna) are seen fondly cradling him as well. These paintings make for a heavenly scene welcoming his birth.  

Gau Mata (Sacred Cow)

Kamdhenu and Calf in Kamal Talai by Dinesh Soni

Cows have been a symbol of reverence in Hindu mythology since time immemorial. In Hinduism, they are respected bovine creatures, equated to the divine. Moreover, cows are also acknowledged as the symbol of all prosperity, fertility, generosity, and divinity, and also an exemplification of Mother Earth. They are often referred to as Gau Mata (sacred cow) in Hinduism. 

The reverence of these gentle creatures is beautifully translated by the skilful Pichwai artists in their paintings. In these paintings, the cows are generally ornamented with alluring and delicate heads and neckpieces.

As Lord Krishna was also a cowherd and known as the protector of cows, many serene scenes of Krishna with cows are represented in Pichwai. Gocharan Leela (scenes of Krishna playing with cows), Gopashtami (the festival commemorating Krishna as a cowherd), and Gwal Ke Darshan (sighting of the cowherds) are some of the many illustrations in the Pichwai style of painting, which constitute the idyllic scenes of cows and Lord Krishna in harmony. The presence of cows represents the prosperity that comes into one's life by worshipping Lord Krishna. The hand imprints on the cows reflect the divine touch of Lord Krishna. 

Another captivating illustration in the Pichwai painting style features the Kamdhenu, the divine and sacred cow. The Kamdhenu is generally painted with her calf in vibrant natural colours. She is considered a great symbol of spirituality and wisdom.  

Sharad Purnima by Sushil Soni 

Sharad Purnima also known as Raas Purnima is celebrated on the first full-moon night (Purnima) of monsoon, which signifies the onset of autumn (Sharad). It is said that the Raas Leela, or the divine dance performed by Krishna with the Gopis (cowherd girls) of Braj, had taken place on this night. 

This celebration of the divine union and the spiritual love that exists between Lord Krishna and his devotees is artistically depicted by the Pichwai artists in the most enchanting manner. While Lord Krishna is heavily adorned with a crown, a vivid garland around his neck and various ornaments all over, the Gopis are also decorated with many jewels and intricately designed accessories and clothes. These paintings often also feature water with lotus blooming near Krishna and the Gopis celebrating–symbolising the banks of the Yamuna river, where this scene was said to have occurred. 

Kamal Talai by Dinesh Soni

 The lotus flower has been a significant theme in the Pichwai style of paintings. They are seen in almost every Pichwai painting making for a radiant scene with their soft pink hues. 

Lotus has been an auspicious symbol in Hindu mythology. They are also known to personify purity, spiritual enlightenment, beauty, prosperity and eternity. The pink lotus is considered to be the most divine. Depicted in various stages, the lotus suggests the journey of the soul from darkness towards light. It is also symbolic of the divine touch of Radha. 

The typical scene of vibrant lotus flowers in a pond is called Kamal Talai. The pink blossoms of the lotus flower are painted with extreme detail and precision. They are accompanied by their dainty stems and leaves, giving an ethereal and divine atmosphere to the paintings.

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