Pichhwai

 The temple hangings of Nathdwara, known as pichhavais (a

Hindi meaning ‘off behind’) are large cloth painting made in the

traditional technique of Indian miniature painting

 Used in daily worship in the central temple of Nathdwara, south

Rajasthan, they are placed behind the deity of Shri Nathji (an aspect

of Lord Krishna), acting as both ‘stage set’ and yantra (a secred

geometric form).
 Pichhwai are pictorial ,narrating a legend or an incident from the life
of lord Krishna.

 Richly colored cotton ,satin or velvet have been used for making
these altar clothes.

 Velvet and satin pichwai are used in winter.

 Silk or cotton threads in bright red,green,yellow and orange as

well as darker shades are used for embroidering a red,purple,blue
or white ground.
 The face of srinathji, an incarnation of lord Krishna, is always depicted in
blue with a black outline.

 In patchwork pichwai, green,yellow,black and white threads are

embroidered on a red background, the whole work being offset with an
outline of white cord.

 The designs worked on pichwai select and depict events from the
rasmandala,krishnaleela and gokulvana,all epics on the life of Krishna.
 Nathdwara pigment painted pichwai depict Krishna as shrinathji,the child
god.

 Scenes from Krishna's life –his childhood pranks, trysts with the gopis,the
raas Lila-are favorite subjects.

 Portraits of the goswamijis (priests) and historical events connected with the
pushti marg sect are also popular.

 Use of strong colours,one careful detailing

South Indian pichwai are of two main types-

 Those from the coromandel coast in southeast India

 Those from the deccan

 Deccani Pichhwai show Krishna being represented by the

kadamba tree, an interesting variant characteristic of south Indian

pichwai with a group of adoring gopis standing alongside, holding

offerings.

 Rich in gold leaf, these images radiate an opulence that not only

lavishes sewa upon srinathji but revels the affluence of the patron.
 Pichhwai from coromandel coast were created by highly skilled artists using

the complex dyed and painted kalamkari technique. similar with nathdwara)

 The mochi community of Kutch and northern Gujarat produced highly

precise, flat chain-stitched embroidery called mochi Bharat or mochi

kaam.
 The introduction of lace making machines in England in the second half of

the 19th century offered a brand new visual aesthetic as opposed to the

traditional brightly colored, painted, printed, tinsel-stamped and brocaded

versions.
Mount Govardhan
Ganga Jamni
Viraat Swaroop 148 figures