Maidens at a lingam shrine beside a hermitage in which a fakir sits Murshidabad, late...

Maidens at a lingam shrine beside a hermitage in which a fakir sits Murshidabad, late 18th century, opaque pigments and gold on paper, inscribed to reverse in a 19th century hand, 24 x 17.5 cm

Inscribed verso: The Worship of Mahadeo

Four young ladies have come to worship at a lingam shrine. One decorates the lingam, which is already completely covered with flowers and garlands, with more flowers from a dish held in her hand. The lingam is surrounded by burning oil lamps on a plinth, on which she has rested her water-pot. Her three companions hold their dishes of flowers and water-pots and talk among themselves. One holds a flambeau suggesting that it is meant to be night. On the other side of the tree is a fakirs hut with a fakir with earrings splitting his ears sitting inside it in meditation. A live bull rather than the usual stone one serves as Sivas vehicle. The scene is set by a river with a distant view of a village and hillside with rows of trees. A dark sky sprinkled with stars is above.

Two of the girls wear saris without cholis with their hair in a heavy chignon and two wear the ghaghra and choli typical of northern India at this time and have loose hair. Moreover, the sari is worn in a way typical of the northern Deccan in Maharashtra and Telingana, i.e. tucked between the legs and then round the upper body, as in another painting of four girls worshipping at a Sivalingam from the northern Deccan (Zebrowki 1983, fig. 235).

Provenance: Private Scottish collection

Literature: Zebrowski, M., Deccani Painting, Sotheby Publications, University of California Press, London and Los Angeles, 1983