The Elephant King Wrestles a Crocodile: Illustration from a Gajendramoksha Series
Unknown Artist
late 19th century
Medium
Ink and wash on paper
Dimensions
Image (sight): 16 1/4 x 16 1/2 in. (41.3 x 41.9 cm) Framed: 24 x 26 in. (61 x 66 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture
India (Rajasthan, Kotah)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Subhash Kapoor, in memory of his parents, Smt Shashi Kanta and Shree Parshotam Ram Kapoor, 2008
Accession Number
2008.359.53
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant tradition of Rajasthani miniature painting,The Elephant King Wrestles aodile* captures a dramatic moment from the *Gajendramoksha* series, drawn from the Hindu epic *Bhagavata Purana*. Here, the mighty elephant king Gajendra battles a ferocious crocodile that has gripped his leg in a swamp, symbolizing the soul's struggle against worldly attachments. This late 19th-century work from Kotah, Rajasthan, embodies *bhakti* devotion, as Gajendra's eventual rescue by Lord Vishnu underscores themes of surrender and divine grace, resonating deeply in Indian spiritual life. Created by an...