MAHARAJA TAKHT SINGH OF JODHPUR WORSHIPPING BAHUCHARA MATA
Jaipur or Jodhpur School, Rajasthan, North-Western India, late 19th century

Opaque pigments and gold on paper, the vertical composition depicting Takht Singh, ruler of Jodhpur (1843 - 1873), paying homage to the Hindu goddess of chastity and fertility, and patroness of the hijra community (a community of transgender women and intersex individuals), Bahuchara Mata, portrayed on her vahana (vehicle), a large white cockerel with a red head, symbolising innocence, holding a sword, her typical attribute, and a drinking cup, flanked by Kala and Gora Bharaiva, recognisable thanks to the colour of their skins, the scene set in a palatial complex, and framed within black and white rules, and ochre and bright red borders, backed in wasli paper, 34cm x 29cm.

Our painting, though slightly bigger in size, is very similar to another composition of Takht Singh worshipping Bahuchara Mata, featuring in the extensive collection of Indian paintings of the Indian art connoisseur Anil Relia (over 3000 exemplars). The painting is published online and in his catalogue The Indian Portrait I - an artistic journey from miniature to modern (http://www.theindianportrait.com/artwork/maharaja-takhat-singh-worshipping-bahuchara-mata/).

Anil Relia discusses in his catalogue whether the composition could stem from a truthful historical event, involving Takht Singh visiting Bahuchara Mata's temple in Bahucharaji town in the Mehsana district of Gujarat, possibly seeking the boon for a male child. If that was the case, then this and similar paintings portraying this scene could be considered standard compositions produced as ex-voto, a way to thank the goddess for the granting of the ruler's wish. However, the historical records do not provide enough documentary reference to corroborate this hypothesis.