Painted Hanuman Bhairava Shutters From Bikaner - Ca 1900

These beautifully painted antique Indian shutters depict a scene from the Ramayana Hindu epic. They date from circa 1900 and are from Bikaner area in Rajasthan.

On the left we see Hanuman holding what appears to be a lingam in his left hand - In the Ramayana, Lakshmana is severely wounded in the battle against Ravana's forces. Hanuman is sent to retrieve the mythical Sanjeevani herb (also known as vishalya karani) from mount Gandhamadana Parvat. He instead brought the entire mountain, Gandhamadana Parvat, containing the Sanjeevani herb, from the Himalayas to Lanka to heal Lakshmana. 

On the right side is Bhairava with his dog Shvana who acts as his vahana (vehicle) - Bhairava is a form of Shiva and protects humanity from demons. He holds a severed head in one hand and a trident in the other. 

This style of painting on decorative shutters can only be found in Bikaner and the surrounding area. It is a city that is famous for its fine painting of boxes and the interiors of buildings. This shutter would have been plastered into the wall with a cavity for storing keepsakes.



Supplied with sturdy wall hangers. This piece is in excellent condition with some wear to the painting conducive with age, especially around the hasp area. 

From India

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