An illustration from the Bhagavata Purana: Gajendra Moksha

NORTH INDIA, PAHARI REGION, GULER, CIRCA 1760

Details

An illustration from the Bhagavata Purana: Gajendra Moksha
North India, Pahari region, Guler, circa 1760
Vishnu in his four-armed celestial form standing on the banks of a lake, accepting a lotus from the elephant-king who has a makara wrapped around his ankles, the reptile's neck severed by a chakra, Garuda flying above, with later gold-flecked blue borders
Opaque watercolor on wasli heightened with gold
5½ x 7 in. (14 x 17.7 cm.), painting
10 1/8 x 11 7/8 in. (25.6 x 30 cm.), folio

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Lot Essay

Gajendra moksha means "Liberation of Gajendra" and is a popular tale from the Bhagavata Purana. While bathing in a lotus-filled lake, Gajendra, the king of elephants, disturbed a makara who grabbed his leg and began to pull him under water. Trapped within the makara's strong jaws, Gajendra tried in vain to free himself. As he was about to drown, the elephant-king picked up a lotus with his trunk. Lifting it towards the heavens, he cried, "I offer this to Vishnu, my lord, the refuge of the helpless." Instantly, Vishnu descended from Vaikuntha and liberated Gajendra by striking down the makara with his chakra.

The Bhagavata Purana narrates the tales of Lord Vishnu and his ten avatars, each of whom must save the world from danger, destroy the wicked and protect the virtuous.

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