Kings, Icons, and Festivals: The Saptasvarupotsava of 1739 as Represented in a Mural at the City Palace of Kota

Presenter:

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Abstract

Before his death, Vitthalnath (1515–1585)–one of the preceptors of the Pushti Marg–distributes nine sacred icons (navnidhis) to his seven sons. This subdivision, which took place at Mount Govardhan in Braj, not only represents the foundational moment of the sect’s seven lineages, it also coincides with the first celebration of the Saptasvarupa Festival, which is a formal reunion of the most revered icons of the sampradaya.

In 1739, Maharao Durjan Sal–the Rajput ruler of Kota (r. 1723–1756)–becomes both promoter and sponsor of a re-enactment of the same festival. The solemn commemoration, which took place at the Shri Nathji temple of Nathdwara, is still remembered for its great significance in the history of the Pushti Marg community. The same celebration was also conceived, by some of the Rajput rulers of Rajasthan, as an opportunity to cement political relations.

This paper will examine a rare mural representing the festival. The painting, located in the Bada Mahal of the Kota City Palace, has been overlooked by previous research. The analysis will reveal its historical context as well as the identity of the rulers portrayed in the composition. It will also highlight some significant royal and devotional networks which are visually conveyed by including (or excluding) kings and icons.

This presentation will demonstrate that, among the Rajput kingdoms, the court of Kota was one of the most dynamic supporters of the Pushti Marg at the time. The contextualization of the mural will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the relevance of visual sources in the study of the Vallabha Sampradaya.