See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/371954600

Pichwai: The Tapestry art of Nathdwara

Article · May 2023

CITATIONS READS

0 504

3 authors:

Ramratan Guru Priyanka Yadav

Mody University of Science and Technology Mody University of Science and Technology
101 PUBLICATIONS 54 CITATIONS 14 PUBLICATIONS 50 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Ushma Saini
Mody University of Science and Technology
6 PUBLICATIONS 4 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Ramratan Guru on 30 June 2023.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125
Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

Pichwai: The Tapestry art of Nathdwara

Priyanka Yadav1, Ramratan Guru,2 Ushma Saini3
1-3
Assistant Professor, School of Design, Mody University Science and Technology,
Lakshmangarh-332311, Rajasthan, India

Abstract
Traditional art is part of a certain group of people; with skills and knowledge passed down
through generations from masters to apprentices today’s Digital art has become a part of daily life.
When we talk about the subjects of traditional art there is always a main subject ‘’Devi Devtaon ke
Chitra‘’ in every art forms like warli, madhubani, we can see the example of ram and Krishna
Illustrations. in hindu art ram Krishna is always a main subject. Lord Krishna Paintings have been
famous since centuries, and he is popular subject in both traditional and modern India Art .in traditional
indian paintings, Lord Krishna is often depicted in a formal and stylized manner. Pichwai is a traditional
art that was developed in the small town nathdwara near udaipur Rajasthan India 400 years ago this art
illustrates the cheery and gratifying stories of krishna life. Pichwai is often created by a group of artists
who belong to pushtimarg sec, which was founded by shri vallabhacharya back in the 16th century.
Pichwai painting were traditionally used to hang behind Shrinathjis, belonging to the Mewar School.
Pichwai painting depict the traditional celebrations of ras lila, Goverdhan Pooja, Sharad purnima,
Annakoot, Diwali, janmashtami, holi ,etc often ,the painting would portray one incident of festival from
Krishna’s life surrounded by numerous other smaller images. Illustrating various other stories from
Krishna’s life. The artist use natural colours and hand made brushes from the hairs of goat, horses and
squirrel the use of gold in the painting adds their value and charm. For one painting it may take 3-4 days
to us to prepare color from pure gold. We sould save the techniques of traditional pichwai art these days
very few artists in Nathdwara are doing Pichwai as the tourists here like decorative artwork more and
there is less demand for this art. Through their is scope, if the artists explore new subjects in the
traditional Pichwai art. as, people always like new subjects and can get bored seeing the same old
subjects. Lord Krishna paintings have been famous since centuries, and he is a popular subject in both
traditional and modern Indian art. The art of Pichwai paintings remain in tremendous among both
devotees and art enthusiasts Worldwide.
Key words: Pichwai Painting, Indian Pichwai Art, Nathdwara Art, Tapestry Art.

1. Introduction
One of the most Innovative and significant example of Rajasthani art treasure is the
world of Rajasthani ‘’ Pichwai Painting’ ’the word Pich originates from Sanskrit term ‘’pitch’’
which means back and the meaning is ‘’wai’’which is translated as hanging. This concludes the
meaning as something hanging in the background .it becomes clear that these painting are
found in the backdrop of idol of lord Shrinath ji [1-3]. This art is 400 years old art form
Sanskrit. Shrinath ji is a Swaroop of lord Krishna which resemble his-7-year-old’’ infant’’ the
incarnation of lord Krishna clutching the hill Goverdhan, is shown in them. lord Krishna raised
the mountain named Govrdhan on his little pinky finger. All of the Pichwai that are used in the
Shrinathji shrine are from the 19th and 20th centuries. Some new drawings are being made
because the cost of making new ones has gone up a lot. The price of a good Pichwai can range
from 10,000 to 1,000,000. Pichhwai drawings are a traditional form of Indian art that came
from the town of Nathdwara in the Indian state of Rajasthan [4-6]. It has been around for more
than 400 years. Most of the time, the paintings are done on cloth and are used in Hindu shrines
as a background for Hindu gods. Usually, they are hung behind the statue of Shrinathji, a local
version of Krishna who is worshipped at the heart of Pushtimarg. Pichwai art is very
complicated and takes a long time to make (about three to nine months to a year). Even after all

11
UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125

Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

the work that goes into it, there aren't many people who want to buy it because it's not in high
demand. On the other hand, people prefer to buy it in printed and digital forms because it costs
less.

2. Story and History of Pichwai Paintings:

In the 15th century, a new way of worshipping Krishna called the Pushti Marg, or the
path of grace, began in north India. This may have been a reaction to the fact that Hinduism
was becoming stricter. The Pushtimarg says they have a unique society based on Lord Krishna.
Nathdwara is where this piece of art comes from. "Nathdwara" means "Gateway to the Lord.
“A long time ago, a cow named Chandravali climbed the Goverdhan hill every day. This hill is
in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Every day, the dog did this. He was very interested in why the cow
suddenly broke away from the group to climb the hill while he was looking at the grass patch
[7]. The shepherd saw that Lord Shrinathji's hand was coming out of the stone. The milk from
the cow got to the stone. The shepherd told Shri Vallabh Acharya, and he began to worship the
god right away. The devotees made the idol, and shri Vallabh Acharya set up the custom and
rituals called "Pushti Marg." First, people in Mathura prayed to a picture of Lord Shri Nath Ji
on Goverdhan Hill. But in 1665, Aurangzeb began to destroy Hindu buildings, and the Mughal
army went to Goverdhan hill to do the same. The idol of Krishna was in Vrindavan, but the
followers moved it to the village of Sinhad. When the ox cart got to the Sinhad, it got stuck in
the mud. And the driver couldn't get it anywhere else. And the priests knew that the lord had
chosen this place. Because of this, as a result. Under the rule and care of the then Maharana Raj
Singh of Mewar, a temple was built there. The Shrinathji temple is also called "Haveli of
Shrinathji. "Pichhwai art, which is 400 years old, shows the wonderful life of Lord Krishna.
One of the things that makes Nathdwara a well-known city is the temple of Lord Krishna. It’s
an Indian city in the western state of Rajasthan [8]. Nathdwara is a city in the state of
Rajasthan. It is in the Rajsamand district. It is on the bank of the Bana River in the Arawali
Hills, 48 km north-east of Udaipur. For people who follow the pushti Marg, this temple is one
of the most holy places in India. Shri Vallabh Acharya set up the practise of worshipping Lord
Shrinathji at Pushti Marg. Lord Shrinathji is a seven-year-old Krishna named "Balpan. “The
artists who lived in the Nathdwara area came up with Pichwai art. The religious stories and
myths about Lord Krishna gave these artists ideas, and they started making religious stories and
myths about Lord Krishna, who is shown as a child in the form of Shrinathji. For people who
follow the Pushti Marg, the temple is one of the most holy places in India.

3. Origin of Pichwai Paintings

The name "Pichwai" comes from the Sanskrit language. It is made up of two words:
"Pich" and "wai." iwais means "hanging," and pich means "ts." art that is 400 years old Artists
tell different stories about Lord Krishna's various Leela’s at different times. In a traditional
Pichwai painting, there are 24 boxes around the main picture of Shri Krishna, the gopi’s, and
other things. Even though it has many figures and parts, a "Pichhwai Painting" is an example of
beauty and balance in art. Each has Krishna, the gopi’s, and the Dhenu Cow. The cloth has a
touch of bright natural colours. In 1672 BCE, the Shrinathji temple was built. The art was
started by the craftsmen who worked for Vitthalnath, who was the chief priest and the son of
Vallabhachrya, the founder of the Pushitmarg group [9-11].

4. Traditional Pichwai

12
UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125
Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

The traditional Pichwai takes about a month or two to make. Pichwai was first painted
on hand-spun cotton stretched cloth, canvas, and paper. Then, the artists would draw their
designs on the starched cloth. Then the stylish and decorative images were painted on and
made. After that, the picture was ready to be painted. Crystals, other decorative elements,
natural colours, and handmade brushes add to the look of the edges. These bright colours came
from coal, indigo, gold, silver, saffron, zinc, and other natural sources. They were also made by
hand using blocks of colour. Colours like yellow, green, black, and red are used a lot in the
pichwai. The part that was fancy would be coloured pure gold [12-13].

Figure 1. Traditional pichwai: Krishna gopies and Chandrawali Dhenu

Motifs of Pichwai: The main themes are Krishna's face and body as a 7-year-old, and Cow
Chandrawali, who led the followers to Lord Krishna. The idol is also treated like a kid because
it has forms like a lotus face and a full body. Inside the temple, everything that happens is done
with him in mind.

Subjects: The pichwai paintings are part of the "Nahdwara school of art" and can be
recognised by their big eyes, big faces, and big bodies. The ''shringara'' is thought to be
represented by these parts of the ''Shrinathji'' figure of Lord Krishna. Most of us know that
Krishna is linked to the country's most important holiday, Celibrat. The Pichwai painting is
made for an idol of Lord Krishna, so they changed the background at every event. Radha and
Krishna, events based on Shri Krishna's well-known stories like the Bhagwat Puran, and the

13
UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125

Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

work of bhakti poets are all examples of this. Some pitches based on events and times of year
are:

Figure 2. (a) Traditional motif: Chandrawali dhenu (b) Motifs: lotus and levees

Figure 3. Pichhwai motifs painting techniques apply on apparel fabric

14
UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125
Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

• Radha Ashthami: This holy day is a time to remember when goddess Radha was born.
Exactly 15 days after Janmashtami, it is honored. Radha-Rani is a subject that artists love
to paint because she is beautiful.
• Sharad Purnima Pichwai: Among the different kinds of Pichwai art, the autumn
holiday of Sharad Purnima is a major theme. Radha and Krishna's swing wedding takes
place on the night of a full moon.
• Sandhya Aarti Pichwai: The old Sandhya arti Pichwai shows Yashoda, the gopies,
Balram, and their gopa friends.
• Morakuti (Monsoon) Pichwai: This theme shows peacocks with crested caps dancing
freely during the rainy season. These are named for the small village of Vraj, which is
close to where Radha was born and has a lot of peacocks.
• Dana Ekadashi Pichwai: on this particular day
• Braj yata Pichwai: On the occasion of Brij Parikrama yatra, an artist performs the vraj
Parikrama yatra. This yatra is a pilgrimage route that is done in a clockwise direction,
passing through 12 vans (forests) and 24 upvans (groves) and Mount Goverdhana. This
is still done by pilgrims today.
• Goverdhan Dharana Pichwai: On this day, many different kinds of meatless food are
offered to the gods. This day is also called "Annakoot," and it is a holiday where people
give different kinds of vegetarian food to the gods. This day is a reminder of when Sri
Krishna lifted the Govardhan hill with his little finger and saved the people of Vrindavan
from heavy rain. Artists from the Pichwai tribe draw and paint this still on a big scale.
• Radha Ashtami: This holy day is celebrated to commemorate the birth of goddess
Radha. It is celebrated exactly 15 days after Janmashtami. Artists indulge in making
sculptures and paintings of Radha-Rani and adorn them as an offering to her.
• Goverdhan Pooja: At the occasion of Goverdhan Pooja which is known also
“Annakoot’’ on this festival people
• Krishna Janmashtami: The birth of Sri Krishna is an event of utter elation. It is a
moment of merrymaking for all the devotees. Every year this affair attracts millions of
Krishna lovers and preparations are done to decorate the houses and temples. Pichwai is
used for this purpose on the occasions as Radha Krishna paintings.

15
UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125

Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

Figure 4. (a) Annakoot Pichwai: Image source (b) Dhan Ekadashi Pichhwai: Image source

• Jhulan Yatra: This is the most spell-binding view of Radha and Krishna together on a
swing. It is the most important festival for the Vaishnava in the monsoon season. It
involves pilgrimages and parikramas of the fanatics and employs equal efforts as any other
festivity. Ramanavami and Nand Mahotsav Pichwai is also center of attraction.

Techniques of Pichwai: When it comes to the materials used in pichwai, there are a lot of
different things. For example, pichwai artists use cotton cloth called khadi or lattha cloth as the
base of their paintings. Even artists use natural colours and make their own paintbrushes by
hand with goat, horse, or squirrel hair. The worth and beauty of the painting are increased by
the use of pure gold. It might take 3-4 days just to make the colour from pure gold for one
drawing. In particular, the design of cow makes us think of cow. Chndrawali Most of us don't
know that Radha and Krishna are linked to this big festival that is held all over the country.
People from Braj, Mathura, and Vrindavan are known for playing with colours, frogs, and
other things to celebrate the connection between these three places. Radha Ashtami This holy
day is a time to remember when goddess Radha was born. Exactly 15 days after Janmashtami,
it is honored. Radha-Rani is often the subject of sculptures and drawings by artists [14-15].

16
UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125
Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

Figure 5. (a) Holi: Image source (b) Kamal talai Gopi Bhaw Kamal Talai Gopi bhaw

The detailed design of Pichwai paintings is one thing that makes them stand out.
Shrinathji has a heavier body, big, long eyes, and a wide nose, just like the idol at the temple.
These paintings show these traits. Most of the time, the paintings are full of details like flowers,
animals, and geometric designs that are put together in a way that is symmetrical and balanced.
The Pichwai cow picture with flowers in the background, also called "The Kamdhenu," is one
of the most well-known pieces of this type of art. The themes of Pichwai art are different and
change with the seasons. The picture of pink lotuses in the summer is different from the one for
Sharad Purnima, which is a night scene with a bright full moon. There are also other themes,
like Raas Leela, Holi, and Annakut (Govardhan Puja), which are shown during their own
events. In the past, everything that went into making a pichwai picture was made from natural
materials. In the past, Cheriyal drawings were made by covering khadi cotton cloth with a thick
paste. This was the only non-organic step in the process. Brushes, canvas/cloth, and paints were
all made from natural materials. Here is how Cheriyal paintings were made. -First, the Khadi
cotton cloth was coated with a thick paste prepared by boiled rice starch, white clay, gum,
boiled tamarinds seed paste. This process would take a couple of days. Once the cloth got
ready, the figures and other elements like architectural features, landscapes, animals, forests,
birds, rituals were drawn on the cloth. Sharp outlines were then made directly by the brush to
define the drawings. Lastly, the colors were filled in the paintings. Now, the colors used in the
figures had a certain meaning and symbolism attached. The background was painted in red
color to highlight the figures in the paintings [8]. The face and skin were painted as blue and
yellow denoting the gods and goddesses respectively. Brown and darker shades were used to
represent demons and pink skin tones were used for humans. All these colors were naturally
obtained. Natural color stones were finely crushed and water was added and mixed well to

17
UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125

Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

make it a thick paste. White was obtained from white seashells, black form lamp yellow from
turmeric, blue from indigo and other colors from various vegetable dyes and ground stones.
Later, tree gum water was added to preserve them and make them a sticky paint -Once the
painting was completed, leaves and flowers were made in the borders.

Some famous Artist of Pichwai: here are a few of the most famous artist of Pichwai art Many
artists in Rajasthan continue to create Pichhwai paintings today, using traditional techniques
and materials. The Nathdwara painting school, in Rajasthan, here are a few of the most famous
artist of Pichwai art Many artists.
Kalyanmal Sahu: Kalyanmal sahu is a national awardwinning Traditional Pichwai artist
Whose work has been recognized for his innovative use of colour and design.
Mohanlal Kumawat: Monhanlal is well known for his Pichwai art and has won Many Awards
for His work. His Paintings are known for their intricate design and beautiful use of colour.
Rajendra Sharma: Rajendra Sharma is contemporary Pichwai artist who has gained
recognition for his innovative designs and use of natural dyes.
Nathu Lal Verma: Nathu lal verma ji known for beautiful Lord Krishna depiction of Lord
Krishnaand use of his gold leaf in his paintings.
Vijay Sharma: Vijay Sharma ji well known Pichwai artist who has won many awards for his
work. His paintings are known for their intricate designs and beautiful use of colour.

5. Pichwai art in current scenario:

Earlier All of the pichhwais used in Lord Shrinath's temple. In the current situation,
artists don't make enough money for how hard they work because the normal middle class takes
a lot of the money they make. Pichhwai work is very hard to understand. Today, pichwai aren't
just on the building walls or in the background; they're also part of home decor.

• Bedsheet
• Cushion covers
• Wall murals
• Carpets
• Interior
• Sarees
• Kurtis
• Handicraft items
• Wall hanging
• Accessories
• Fabric
• Garment
• Headgear
• Bangles
• Interior Design
• Gate
• Tiles
• Home Decore
• Pots
• Carpet
• Architecture Design
• Makeup inspiration

18
UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125
Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

• Nail art
• Tattoo

Conclusions

• As it can be seen, the most customary Pichhwai paintings characterize wide eyes, sharp
nose and a hefty body. This fabric painting is based on a starched cloth which takes 2-3
days to be ready and the whole piece takes almost a week to complete.
• Other than paints, the art utilizes embroideries, patchworks, appliqué, block printing
and metallic threads to prepare the paintings. Various specifications of this art include
lotus flowers beneath the idol, the moon above the image, animals surrounding the
gods, water bodies flowing alongside and other supplements to define the piece.
• The art collectors prefer deep borders, vibrant shades and minute definitions. It has
been a long time that this art is prevalently a part of the business sector. Trading firms
that supply artwork have an extensive range of these paintings.
• People from parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan not only like to see these dangling
inside the temples but also buy and take them home to adorn the walls of their homes.
The Pichhwai art proves to be quite successful in safeguarding our Hindu legacy.
• Since most of these innovations will be appropriate changes to existing goods, they will
need more critical interventions and hand-holding from their move into the markets.
• Design intervention can help bring the much-needed empathy and big-picture view to
connect and combine the different efforts towards a good result. In India, you can find
great innovations made by Indians that can help your business do well.

References:

1. Manorath of Sri Nathji: Evoking the Alaukika in an Early Twentieth Century Painting from
Nathdwara Isabella Nardi - Academia.edu
2. Shrinath ji: Pichhwais: The Manifestation of Pushtimarg Paper back- by Anu Julka Portraits of
Devotion –Popular manorath Paintings from Nathdwara in the Collection of ANIL relia.
3. Jump up to:a b c Singh, Kanak Lata. "Impact of Nationalism on Pichhavai Paintings". Textiles and
Clothing Research Centre e-Journal. 3: 11–14.
4. Emilia., Ghose, Madhuvanti. Ambalal, Amit, 1943- Krishna, Kalyan. Lyons, Tryna. Shah, Anita.
Bachrach. Gates of the Lord: The Tradition of Krishna Paintings. Art Institute of Chicago. 2015,
ISBN 978-0-300-21472-7. OCLC 1250165281.
5. Sachwani, Nikita. Rejuvenating FOLK Paintings on Textile Products: A Review. Textile Value
Chain, May, 2021.
6. Saxena, A. An Account of Dots and Lines the Gond Tribal Art of Madhya Pradesh, Their Tradition,
Relevance and Sustainability in Contemporary Design Domain. Indian Journal of Current Research,
9(1), 61128-61135, 2017.
7. Bora, S., & S. Designing of apparel using traditional gond painting motif. International Journal of
Home Science, 3(1), 304-309, 2017.
8. Jaiswal, E., Goswami, M., & Mishra, A. The revival of dying legacy: Tikuli art. In T. Gupta, P. B.
Mistry, & B. S. Gupta (Eds.), A treatise on Recent Trends and Sustainability in Crafts & Design
(pp. 167-175). New Delhi: Excel. Retrieved April 12, 2017.

19
 UGC Approved Journal No. 49321 Impact Factor: 6.125

Shodh Drishti (An International Peer Reviewed Referred Research Journal), Vol. 14, No. 5.2, May 2023

9. Shrivastava, N., Goel, A., & Rani, S. Adaptation of mandala art for development of design suitable
for textile articles. International Journal of Home Science, 5(3), 1-4, 2019.
10. Tiwari, Dr. S., & Dhakad, D. Design Intervention & Craft Revival with Reference to Pichhwai
Paintings: A Contemporise Approach. Journal of Textile Science and Fashion Technology, 6(1), 1-
7, 2020.
11. Wooley M. Beyond control: Rethinking industry and craft dynamics Coventry, 2011.
12. Balaram S. Design Pedagogy in India: A Perspective. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Design
21(4), 2005.
13. Mortati M, Vellari B. Crafting social innovators: Designing collaborative participative networked
solutions in urban contexts, 2003.
14. . Niedderer K (2010) Craft Research and its context UK, University of Wolverhampton, UK.
15. Alastair Fuad-Luke, towards sustainable production and consumption- the role of craft designer-
makers, 2016.

20

View publication stats