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

[Nichi]

Sultan Ibrahim Adham of Balkh visited by angels. Provincial Mughal, mid 18th century. Sultan Ibrahim seated cross-legged on a tree stump, with his eyes closed in contemplation, four angels standing before him in colorful robes bearing gifts, another ascetic leaning against a small mound on the opposite side.

Per Bonhams: A popular subject in 18th-century Mughal paintings, echoing that of Siddhartha, Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham (d.776-77) gave up the royal Kingdom of Balkh to become a wandering dervish. Here, we see him visited by angels who favor him over a more seasoned dervish, serving him ten bowls of food and the other only one. When the other grumbles in envy, a voice from the sky explains that whereas he was poor to begin with, Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham gave up a lot more for the love of God.

[Nichi]

A Princess Visiting a Forest Shrine at Night. Attributed to Mir Kalan Khan (master painter, India, active circa 1730-1780). India, Uttar Pradesh, Awadh, Lucknow, circa 1760.


(Click and enlarge attachment to see refined detail.)

[Nichi]

Women who worship Shiva are interrupted by a vision of Krishna, anonymous, ca 1795 - ca 1805. Source: Rijksmuseum

Has Krishna come to interrupt the puja, or to join it?


https://www.facebook.com/196174216674/photos/pb.196174216674.-2207520000.1431971977./10151301178651675/?type=3&theater

[Nichi]

A yogi (holy man) shown three consecutive times, once sitting in front of his hut, and twice worshipping Vishnu who is seated on Garuda. Probably Jaipur, ca. 1800.

Best view (click & enlarge): http://media.vam.ac.uk/collections/img/2013/GB/2013GB1389_2500.jpg

(Or the attachment)

[Nichi]

Vaishnavite yogini, by Nathu, opaque watercolour on paper, Bikaner, 1687.

In this painting, the only thing I can see which connects her to Vishnu is that she is holding a conch in her left hand.

Best view in attachment (click & enlarge):

[Nichi]

2 ladies and a girl pay their respects to a yogi (ascetic) who is seated on a deer-skin and in front of his riverside ashram (hermitage). A yogini (female ascetic) is seated next to him on the ground. A noblewoman arrives carrying her offerings. She has embarked from a maur-pankhi (peacock-shaped pinnace). Murshidabad, ca. 1770

Quite an outing!

Best view (click & enlarge): http://media.vam.ac.uk/collections/img/2013/GD/2013GD6681_2500.jpg

[Nichi]

Religious mendicant sitting outside his hut with a female disciple and tiger. On paper. The painting has been in a border which is now detached .the border has 8 verses of poetry around Mughal Style. Culture/period Islamic. Date 18thC (circa).

Best view in attachment(click and enlarge):

[Nichi]

Yogi sitting on tiger skin at night, in opaque watercolour on paper, Mughal, 18th century.

Best view (click and enlarge): http://media.vam.ac.uk/collections/img/2013/GJ/2013GJ9985_2500.jpg

[Nichi]

Angel Visiting an Aescetic. India, Amber, circa 1680

[Nichi]

Vaishnava brahmin performing japa . The brahmin is seated wearing a gomukhi (ritual L-shaped bag) on his right hand to perform japa - counting the beads of his tulsi-mala (rosary made from beads from the sacred tulsi shrub) whilst repeating Vishnu's name in a mantra thus helping forge a route to salvation. Anglo-Indian school, circa late 19th century.

[Nichi]

Alas, despite Jahangir's son Shah Jahan continuing the mutual-respect tradition initiated by Akbar (literally meaning 'Great' although also connected by root to Kabir - say no more), it was Shah Jahan son, Aurangzeb, whose name still strikes fear in the hearts of Hindus today, that turned the tide towards intolerant, fundamental and aggressive Islam. Only a few days ago, Aurangzeb was spoken of in The Hindu newspaper, as being misunderstood. His actions and legacy are certainly not misunderstood.

In that picture, you see the hope of spiritual ascendancy for the whole of humanity. And yet, one can not overlook a critical fact. Dara, Jahangir's famous first wife, Mumtaz Mahal, eldest son, became too immersed in religious mutuality, while his brother, the third son, was a born warrior and brought up by a fundamentalist Islamic influence. The Mughal Empire reached it's greatest extent under Aurangzeb, which also became it's cause of decline: over-reach.

I see in all this the Will of Life. Those who tread too far to the left side of the tube running into the heart of our energetic being, who seek too much love and tolerance, fall prey to those who tread too far to the right of the tube - of violence and intolerance. Why has Life set it up that continuously throughout human history, the approach to enlightened material governance is always hijacked by ruthless and violent forces who have the advantage of 'physical grasp'. Why can't those who intuitively see all sides, also be capable of decisive and clever action. Obviously, this was achieved with some notable exceptions, like Akbar himself, and earlier Ashoka, but in general it appears the path to love makes us weak.

I see this as a warning to those who pursue the path of understanding and wisdom, that the ability to retain a cunning intellect and the capacity of the 'decisive strike', are essential elements of understanding, wisdom and love. We must walk both sides of the tube as we penetrate into the heart of our being.

Right - cunning and cleverness become necessities at this point in the Kali Yuga. Underground goodness.

By the way, I heard a story the other day that while Aurangzeb had Jahangir imprisoned for many years, one evening he had a "special dinner" sent to Jahangir: the head of Dara, Jahangir's favorite and beloved son. That is some pretty deep cruelty.

[Nichi]

Hermit wearing tippet and cap in summer landscape and warming hand and foot at a fire. Mughal Style Islamic culture. Date 1800.

[Nichi]

Krishna adorning the hair of a bearded holy man, opaque water colour on paper, Jaipur, early 19th century

See also the attachment or the following link (click and enlarge):
http://media.vam.ac.uk/collections/img/2013/GN/2013GN4097_2500.jpg

[Nichi]

Krishna adorning the hair of a bearded holy man, opaque water colour on paper, Jaipur, early 19th century

See also the attachment or the following link (click and enlarge):
http://media.vam.ac.uk/collections/img/2013/GN/2013GN4097_2500.jpg

You can't really see the hairstyle of the holy man unless you click and enlarge the attachment. True for all of these: there is rich detail to be had in enlarging the attachments.

The reason this painting is so interesting is that the garb of the holy man - the patchwork-stitched robe - is an indicator that he is Sufi, I've come to discover. (You see patchwork - it's a Sufi...) So, how remarkable and lovely that Krishna is befriending and honoring a Sufi.

[Nichi]

The most interesting and curious find of my week - "Mr. Flowery Man". The painting was done in 1815 in Delhi, when the man was famous. And really, 200 years later, he is still famous, in all his eccentric glory.


These ascetics were well-known characters in Delhi. The effete figure with tassels hanging from his waist was called Sarhaj, a Brahmin of the Chaube caste from Gokal, Brindaban, known as 'Mr Flowery Man'. One of four drawings of inhabitants of Delhi. Delhi, India. ca.1815. Artist/Maker: possibly Faiz Ali Khan.

Click and enlarge either this link or the attachments: http://media.vam.ac.uk/collections/img/2006/BF/2006BF8002_2500.jpg

A cleaned-up detail:


He must have been so hot!!