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Unknown (Punjab Hills, Chamba)
The Abduction of Rukmini, ca. 1800
cotton embroidered with silk and metallic thread
38 3/4 x 40 9/16 in.
Museum purchase, Charles Webb Fund
78.3







 
BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Unknown (Punjab Hills, Chamba)
The Abduction of Rukmini, ca. 1800

This rumal, a cloth covering used to wrap gifts or offerings, illustrates events from the life of the Hindu deity Krishna. As the god reached his maturity, he was to leave the cowherds of his childhood and join his true royal parents. After vanquishing an evil demon, Krishna continued to battle the evil spirit's allies. He built a fortress city in a single night and, thus settled, looked to marry. Krishna would eventually marry more than 16,000 maidens but his first and favorite wife was Princess Rukmini (an avatar of the goddess Lakshmi-Vishnu's consort). Rukmini was promised, however, to a loathsome demon. On the fateful wedding day, Krishna snatched the bride. Demons and men rushed about in disarray as the couple escaped.

This elaborate embroidered panel has visible traces of a preliminary drawing, implying the original design of a professional painter.



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