In South Asian history, where memory and symbolism are inextricably entwined, temples symbolised the political power of their patrons. Temp...
In South Asian history, where memory and symbolism are inextricably entwined, temples symbolised the political power of their patrons. Temple patronage indicated the shifting patterns of this power as one influential courtier replaced another and acquired state sanction for significant temples. But this was not always restricted to courtiers.
An example is the beautiful 18th-century Kunjbihari temple at Jodhpur – commissioned by Gulabrai, a paswan or concubine of Maharaja Vijay Singh (AD 1752-’93) of Marwar. In a city full of innumerable temples, this replica of the more famous Ghanshyamji Temple is special because of its patronage. A mural on the ceiling of the temple’s mandapa shows Gulabrai and Maharaja Vijay articulating their affiliation to the Vallabha sect.
This mural is meaningful in many ways. The proximity shared by the pair in the painting symbolises their attachment and an intimacy that was tethered to the spiritual domain. More importantly, it indicates a concubine’s political prominence and centrality in the promotion of the state religion.
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