A TANTRIC PAINTING OF VISHNU’S FEET, VISHNUPADA, 18TH CENTURY

A TANTRIC PAINTING OF VISHNU’S FEET, VISHNUPADA, 18TH CENTURY India, Rajasthan. Ink, watercolors, gouache, and gold on paper, mounted on paper. The footprint of Vishnu’s feet backed by a blooming lotus blossom, against a pale blue ground within a red border, and decorated with the Ashtamangala and numerous other auspicious symbols, weapons, and attributes of Vishnu, each with an identifying inscription. Provenance: Dutch book trade. Acquired through a private estate which contained a major collection of antique books and scriptures. Condition: Very good condition with minor wear. Minor losses and folds. Firmly mounted. Dimensions: Image size 16 x 22.5 cm, Size incl. frame 31 x 36 cm The objects contained within Vishnu’s feet include animals such as a bird and snake; auspicious symbols like the chakra, mala, parasol, vase, and flute; weapons such as a sword, bow and arrows, axe, and mace; as well as the sun, moon, and stars. Pada-puja or the worship of the foot has a long tradition in India. The practice originated with Buddhism. The Buddha, before attaining Nirvana, forbade his followers from personal worship, so his followers introduced various symbols which represented him and could thus become the subjects of their devotion, the representation of his footprint being one such symbol. This symbolism was later adopted and adapted by followers of Vishnu in their worship of Vishnupada as part of their rituals, most particularly in Rajasthan. Vishnu, the manifest form of cosmos, is believed to contain in his foot the entire cosmos and so multiple symbols are accepted as representing Vishnu. Literature comparison: Compare a closely related Vishnupada painting from Rajasthan, dated to the 18th century, in the collection of the National Museum, New Delhi, accession number 82.410.