ManuscriptsIndian16th century

Jarasandha’s siege of Mathura (painting, recto; text, verso), folio from a Bhagavata Purana series

c. 1520 - 1540

Description

At the center of the folio is a walled fortress, which serves as our vantage point for the circular chaos below. Along with the four women on the terrace, we watch the battle unfold between Vasudeva’s sons, the blue-skinned Hindu god Krishna and his elder half-brother Balarama, and the king of Magadha, Jarasandha. After the death of Kamsa at the hands of Krishna, Kamsa’s widows persuade their father, Jarasandha, to mobilize the armies of demons against Krishna. To avenge his daughters, Jarasandha lays a siege to Mathura, the capital of the Yadus, on all sides. Krishna and Balarama decide to intervene and arrive on the battlefield in chariots sent to them by the gods. The story's antihero, Jarasandha, is seen on the left side of the folio, facing the two warriors with his hands joined together—in a position of surrender. The folio captures the moment in the narrative when Jarasandha’s chariot was struck by Balarama’s plow, killing his charioteer. Jarasandha realizes the divine nature of Krishna, and surrenders. This painting belongs to the 'Dispersed' Bhagavata Purana series, produced in the early 16th century, possibly in Mathura. The series, possibly consisting of 360 such folios, is based on the tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana, which describes the story of Krishna, particularly his childhood and youth. This series was one of South Asia's earliest illustrated Bhagavata Purana manuscripts. Each illustration is also accompanied by the text corresponding to the image on the reverse, written in Sanskrit. Other folios from the same Bhagavata Purana series in the Harvard Art Museum’s collection are objects 1963.145, 1974.124, 1974.125, 1974.127, 1992.283, 1995.66, 1995.67, 1995.68. Caurapancasika-group style. Text on Verso: Bhagavata Purana, Book Ten, Chapter 50, verses 25-35.

Classification

Manuscripts

Medium

Ink and opaque watercolor on paper

Culture

Indian

Century

16th century

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Islamic & Later Indian Art