The Goddess Kali 
Attributed to Sajnu
Mandi, circa 1810
Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper
12 1/2 x 9 1/2 in. (31.8 x 24.2 cm.)

The goddess depicted in a classical stance after her killing spree, the third eye surmounts her tongue struck out in between protruding fangs, clad in a belt of decapitated hands and a necklace of severed heads as jagged hair runs down her shoulders. The manifestation of destruction and barrenness is seen brandishing a curved sword (kharga), holding a decapitated head, with a foot over Shiva’s body. Jackals and vultures surround the scene smelling death in the blood-saturated air. The illustration is centered in an octagonal medallion, the spandrels embellished with gold scrolling foliate tendrils, in black borders with scrollwork, wide pink margins containing further depictions of her emanations, cusped cartouches above and below with a vulture and a rat.
The distinctive elaborate margins of this work with cusped cartouches containing attendants of Kali and associated animals are similar to those found on a painting of Raja Isvari Sen of Mandi worshipping Shiva attributed to artist Sajnu, (W.G. Archer, Indian Paintings from the Punjab Hills, London, 1973, fig. 46, p. 275).

An Illustration to the Devi Mahatmya: Ambika Reduces the Demon Dhumralochana to Ashes
Mandi, circa 1825
Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper
Dark blue inner borders with pink-flecked outer borders and ruled lines
Folio: 10 1/8 x 13 in. (25.7 x 33 cm.)
Image: 7 7/8 x 10 3/4 in. (20 x 27.3 cm.)

Provenance:
Mandi Royal Collection, 1969.
Private European Collection.

Inscribed verso: Twelve lines of black and red text in Devanagari script

Drawn from the part of the Markandeya Purana called the Devi Mahatmya, this painting depicts the victory of Ambika over Dhumralochana and his army, who were sent by the asura Shumbha. The gods became weary of two demons named Shumbha and Nishumbha, who had undergone great penance to receive a boon that prevents any male, human or not, from killing them. The gods resultantly prayed to the Goddess (Devi) to rid them of these evil creatures, and she came forth from Parvati as Ambika, a form of Devi. Upon learning of this beautiful lady, Shumbha sent Sugriva as a messenger to her with a proposition of marriage.

She replied by telling Sugriva to relay this message to his master Shumbha:  “He who conquers me in battle, removes my pride and is my match in strength shall be my husband. So let Shumbha come here then, or Nishumbha the great asura. Vanquishing me here, let him soon take my hand in marriage. Why delay?”

Sugriva retorted: “O Devi, you are haughty. Talk not so before me. Which man in the three worlds will stand before Shumbha and Nishumbha? All the Devas verily cannot stand face to face with even the other asuras in battle. Why mention you, o Devi, a single woman? Indra and all the other Devas could not stand in battle against Shumbha and other demons, how will you, a woman, face them? On my word itself, you go to Shumbha and Nishumbha. Let it not be that you go to them with your dignity lost by being dragged by your hair.”

Devi said: “Shumbha is strong and so is Nishumbha exceedingly heroic! What can I do since there stands my ill-considered vow taken long ago? Go back, and tell the Lord of Asuras carefully all this that I have said; let him do whatever he considers proper.” (Chapter 5, verses 120-127).

So Sugriva relayed the message to his master Shumbha, who was outraged at being so disregarded that he sent Dhumralochana and his army to retrieve Amibka by pulling her hair. When Dhumralochana advanced on Ambika, she smote him and he became nothing but a pile of ashes. The demon’s army of 60,000 asuras was likewise vanquished by the lion of Devi, once again instituting the power of the goddess. Dhumralochana can be seen in the present image advancing up a hill towards Ambika, then consumed by flames right before he reaches her. In the bottom register, Dhumralochana’s army are destroyed by the mighty lion of Devi.

Tethered Elephant
Mandi, 18th century
Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper
Folio: 7 x 10 in. (17.7 x 25.4 cm.)
Image: 5 3/4 x 8 3/4 in. (14.6 x 22.2 cm.)

Provenance:
Estate of Thomas Williamson, Orinda, CA.
Merryvale, San Francisco, CA.
Collection of the Maharana of Mewar.

Inscribed in Hindi: Guthi bedi sal bakar (Intertwined chains round the legs of a year old bull).

To view a comparable subject from Mewar, click here.

An Illustration to the Hamir Hath: Hamir consults with his advisors while his archers hold the fort
Attributed to Sajnu, Mandi, circa 1810 
Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on prepared paper
Folio: 14 5/8 x 19 7/8 in. (37 x 50.5 cm.) 
Image: 12 5/8 x 17 3/4 in. (32 x 35 cm.)

Provenance:
Private German Collection.
Sotheby’s, New York, 1 April 2005, lot 115.
Sotheby’s, New York, 19 September 2008, lot 212.

The Chauhan ruler Hamir speaking to his minister Jaja and his daughter Devala while Mahi ma consults with other courtiers within the walls of the Ranthambore fort, Hamir’s archers battle with Alauddin Khilji’s horsemen, Alauddin is depicted seated in a tented encampment with his men and European soldiers in brimmed top hats above, the names of figures inscribed in white and red devanagari script. Within white rules, narrow blue inner and red outer borders, with 811 of black and red devanagari script on reverse describing the scene, the fly-leaf with folio number ’16’ in black ink and bearing the royal Mandi library stamp, mounted.

The Rajasthani ballad, Hamir Hath (‘Pride of Hamir’) composed by the bard Sarangdhar, relates the story of Raja Hamir Dev, the heroic but arrogant Chauhan ruler of Ranthambore, who battled with Alauddin Khilji, the Sultan of Delhi. This painting is closely related to a set of twenty-one illustrations to a Hamir Hath series, which were painted by Sajnu in 1810 as a present for Raja lsvari Sen of Mandi. Sajnu presented these to the Mandi ruler after having left Kangra and his former patron Sansar Chand. The tale of Hamir is strikingly similar to that of Sansar Chand, the despotic ruler of Kangra. It involves the siege of an obdurate ruler in a vast fortress surrounded by dizzy precipices, quite like the Kangra fort with a disastrous end.

Stylistic characteristics in the painting which are reminiscent of Sajnu include the zigzag geometrical composition, the ‘jigsaw-puzzle’ rocks, the floral motifs of the carpets, and the juxtaposition of the bright colours of the dresses, carpets and tent panels against the pastel colours employed for the architecture and the rocks. The composition of our painting is also strikingly similar to ‘Hamir and the dancing girl’ from the presentation series mentioned above. For comparable illustrations and further discussion on the series, see Archer 1973, Vol. I, pp. 360-362, Vol. II, fig. 42(i).(ii), pg. 273.  For another folio from this series which is sold at auction, see Christie’s New York, 23 September 2004, lot 167.

Illustration to a Baramasa Series: The Month of Pausha (Mid December to Mid January)
Attributed to Sajnu and his workshop, Mandi, circa 1808
Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper
Folio: 14 5/8 x 19 7/8 in. (37 x 50.5 cm.) 
Image: 12 5/8 x 17 3/4 in. (32 x 35 cm.)

Provenance:
In the collection of Dealer S. Bahadur Shah, late 19th century From a private European collection.

Inscribed and stamped verso:
S. Bahadur Shah / Dealer in Curiosities / Mochi Gate / Lahore / Punjab, India (along with various sketches and inscriptions).