Topic: Holy Men & Women, and the Beings Who Visit Them

[Michael]

The holy men of India, circa Middle Ages, were viewed as powerful and were consulted as oracles. In this history of Bikaner, the following anecdote is cited:

According to legend Bika Lunkaranji consulted a holy man called Jas nathji, who foretold that Bika's line would reign for 450 years. While Bika was pleased with this prediction, his brother Gharsiji when he heard of the prediction thought a longer period of power should have been prophesied. He confronted the holy man while he was in a deep trance and roused him by thrusting burning incense under his nose.[10] Jas nathji told him 'All right take 50 years more or less but of trial and tribulation'.



(Thank-you Qarille.)

That was interesting - I have seen the statue of Karni Mata in the Jodhpur fort, which is a bit spooky I should add, but had never looked up the origin of this 'deity' personage. We spent a few days in Bikaner, and found it very interesting. It remains a place we would like to return to, but probably won't as we have had enough of North India.

[Nichi]

(I like your reflection in that photo, M.)

[Michael]

Curious to see I'm wearing a warm jacket of some kind - Julie and I often reflect on how cold Rajasthan was, and then we flew direct to Trivandrum in South India and it was the most stifling, hottest humidity of any place I can remember. Our bodies took two weeks to adjust.

[Nichi]

Curious to see I'm wearing a warm jacket of some kind - Julie and I often reflect on how cold Rajasthan was,

Is this the reason you all are tired of Northern India, the cold?

[Michael]

No, it's only cold in winter, and nothing like where we live here in Aust. We are tired of North India because it's so bloody difficult. And yet it is also fascinating, but it's just too exhausting. The South is a breath of fresh air comparatively, and once we discovered the wealth of culture in Tamil Nadu, which also has the best temples, we realised all our future adventures into Indian culture could be satisfied by the South.

[Nichi]

No, it's only cold in winter, and nothing like where we live here in Aust. We are tired of North India because it's so bloody difficult. And yet it is also fascinating, but it's just too exhausting. The South is a breath of fresh air comparatively, and once we discovered the wealth of culture in Tamil Nadu, which also has the best temples, we realised all our future adventures into Indian culture could be satisfied by the South.

How about the political danger-factor in the North?

[Michael]

How about the political danger-factor in the North?

Dangers are not likely to come from political sources, except in Kashmir. There is the odd bomb, but really they are rare. We've never felt concern from that kind of thing in India, although, the South does have a lower profile for that risk. Dangers are more likely to come from illness, pedestrian/vehicle accidents or train fires, and they can happen anywhere. Riots are always something to watch for, but again, they are rare, although some friends of mine did get too close for comfort to a riot.

[Nichi]

Miniature indienne : trois femmes visitant une Yogini, Inde, école moghole provinciale, XVIIIème siècle.

http://www.sothebys.com/content/dam/stb/lots/PF1/PF1319/235PF1319_74BZC_1.jpg

[Nichi]

A Yogini at her Hermitage Being Visited by Devotees. India, Kishangarh, circa 1720-40

Per Sotheby's: The yogini clad in silhouetted orange garments is standing on a tiger skin mat with a morchal and offerings around her. Her attire and ornaments suggest a noble descent. She is shown leaning on a plank tied to the tree- implying a vow to stand on her feet for a long period of time, a known yogic feat. She is giving audience to a varied group of devotees. Under the tree and close to her are seated two other ascetics. Her hermitage is located on the river bank. The marbled courtyard where she stands is surrounded by pits with smoldering embers of coal.

The group of devotees present fine examples of portraiture, with each person a studied character skillfully rendered by the artist. They include a royal extending his hand with offerings, a young boy holding a spear, two sword heralding men, an old Sufi with a  bent back and a man with a shaved head, holding a branch with leaves, reminiscent of the Christian saints rendered on Mughal folios of this time. Kishangarh’s atelier during this period was headed by Bhavanidas, the Mughal master who relocated to Kishangarh in 1719.

Best View: http://www.sothebys.com/content/dam/stb/lots/N08/N08976/249N08976_6GCQ4.jpg  (click to enlarge)

[Nichi]

A prince meets a holy man at his mountain retreat Malwa, North India, mid-17th century

[Nichi]

Ibrahim ibn Adham c. 718 – c. 782 / AH c. 100 – c. 165, was one of the most prominent of the early ascetic Sufi saints. The story of his conversion is one of the most celebrated in Sufi legend, as that of a prince renouncing his throne and choosing asceticism closely echoing the legend of Gautama Buddha. Sufi tradition ascribes to Ibrahim countless acts of righteousness, and his humble lifestyle, which contrasted sharply with his early life as the king of Balkh (itself an earlier center of Buddhism). As recounted by Abu Nu'aym, Ibrahim emphasized the importance of stillness and meditation for asceticism. Rumi extensively described the legend of Ibrahim in his Masnavi. The most famous of Ibrahim's students is Shaqiq al-Balkhi (d. 810).

[Nichi]

Dervish seated under a tree. Detached album folio. Portrait of a dervish engaged in prayers while seated on a platform under a tree, holding a rosary in his hand and a crutch by his side. The setting, the simple accessories & the contemplative atmosphere are common to dervishes' depictions of the time, in which a modest lifestyle and humble behaviour were emphasised. Mughal Style. Shah Jahan reign, c. 1627-1658. India

[Nichi]

Two Holy Men Conversing, Reminiscent of Payag, India, Mughal, circa 1630-35

(Open attachment for best view)

[Nichi]

A Dervish dance Type Painting Maker(s) Artist: Mirza Muhammad al-Hasani Historical period(s) Safavid period, 1613 Medium Ink, color and gold on paper. Geography Iran, Isfahan

http://www.asia.si.edu/collections/edan/object.php?q=fsg_F1907.157

[Nichi]

a Lady Going to Worship at a Lingam Shrine, India, Mughal, circa 1700

Best view in the attachment: open and enlarge.

There is something about the lady's garb - especially those (leather?) wrist-bands she's wearing, which shows up a lot in the yogini paintings. I've yet to identify the meaning. It puts me in mind of archery, or falconry.