Painting

Maharaja Man Singh of Jaipur paying homage to Bahuchara Mata. Jaipur School. The artist is Bhatti Gula, active in the court of Maharaja Man Singh (r. 1803-1843). The maharaja of Jaipur is pictured seeking the blessings of the goddess Bahuchara Mata (a form of the great goddess Devi ) who is attended by the youthful brothers god Krishna and Shiva. Bahuchara Mata is associated with the hijra in many South Asian countries. Krishna and Shiva are seen as blue and white twins in a type of tandem dance. The three eyed goddess holds in her four hands: a mace, trident, sword, and a lotus. She is richly dressed and bejeweled on her head is a crown which is surrounded by a golden nimbus. Shiva (white) holds a peacock feather, sword, drum, and lotus and Krishna (blue) holds a sword, fly whisk, drum, and lotus. Each has a coiled snake around their neck. The floor of the fore court is a rich pattern, behind the walls there is a profusion of flowers, in the foreground a marble pool and fountain.