Item Info

Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

The narayanastra was a powerful weapon given to Ashvatthaman, one of the Kauravas, by the god Vishnu (also called Narayana). When Ashvatthaman fired the narayanastra, he unleashed a stream of scorching missiles on the Pandavas. The strength of these divine missiles increased as long as the target resisted. To avoid annihilation, the Pandavas laid down their weapons and surrendered to Ashvatthaman. The artist’s portrayal of the narayanastra as a painterly mound of flames seems an understated imagining of the weapon’s full capabilities. The artist Asa, who illustrated this scene and several others in this gallery, clearly preferred loose brushwork and areas of wet-looking paint, as seen in the fire.

Region/County: Region/County:Northern India, Mughal court

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1599
Call Number: Lewis M 9
Creator Name: Asa - Artist