A signed 15-metre Cheriyal scroll of Daksha-Yajna

Ramaiah, Nakashi Venkata. Scroll of the Madel Puranamu illustrating the story of the Daksha-Yajna and Virabhadra.

€ 45,000.00

A monumental narrative scroll painted as a backdrop for oral performance, from Chariyal (Cheriyal) near Hyderabad in the north-eastern state of Telangana, a centre of itinerant story-scroll production where professional bards (so-called Mandhets) unrolled painted cloths as a moving stage-set while reciting caste-puranas and mythic cycles.

Signed by the artist Nakashi Venkata Ramaiah, one of the last celebrated masters of the tradition, and inscribed in Telugu with the calendrical year-name 'Soumya' and the artist’s name and village, as well as the patronal supporters responsible for commissioning the work.

The Madel Puranamu illustrates the story of the sacrifice of Daksha and the emergence of Virabhadra. Unhappy with the marriage of his daughter to Shiva, Daksha organizes a great sacrifice to which he invites all the gods except Shiva and his new wife. Shiva takes great offence and in retaliation creates the fearsome Virabhadra, who proceeds to engage all the other gods in battle. Eventually Shiva decides to sacrifice Daksha but then regrets his action and brings him back to life. Shiva then asks a group of washermen or dhobis to cleanse the site of the sacrifice. This is followed by an explanation of how the dhobi caste was created. It is therefore highly likely that the present scroll was commissioned by a wealthy member of the dhobi caste to celebrate his community’s origins and favour with Shiva. The climactic emergence and battles of Virabhadra are emphasised by registers enlarged beyond the standard panel scale.