Devi Mahatmya manuscript, Telugu translation of Sanskrit. Both paintings are concerned with the forces of Devi, represented in the form of grotesque leonine creatures, devastating the armies of a rogue king.
Mysore
ca. 1825
opaque watercolour and gold on paper.
VAM
The rulers of Mysore, descendants of the feudal chiefs of the kings of the Vijayanagara kingdom, fiercely sought to preserve the Hindu values and culture of their court in the face of Muslim pressures from the surrounding southern Deccan.
Mural painting traditions in nearby Andhra Pradesh, such as those at the Virabhadra temple at Lepakshi, gave strength to their cause. This painting boldly asserts its Hindu character and gives us an insight into this little studied aspect of South Indian Painting.
images and text via @V_and_A museum, London
*Kannada, not Telugu
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