The narrative of this scroll extols the virtues of the elephant-headed god Ganesh, who appears as Manavinayaka, a form popular among the Newars of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. The story begins in the upper left-hand corner with a red Ganesh dancing on his mount, the rat. Moving to the right, the story unfolds with two panels depicting his father, Shiva, and mother, Parvati, playing a game of dice. With the aid of Vadava, the small figure in the fourth panel, Shiva wins the game, enraging his wife. Parvati curses Vadava and sends him to the depths of the ocean, where he is attacked by sea creatures. Various gods advise Vadava to seek the help of Ganesh, which he does by performing special rites; he is eventually released from his torments. The bottom panels depict Vadava and others worshipping Ganesh as Manavinayaka.
Details
- Title: Narrative Scroll Extolling Manavinayaka
- Date: c. 1575
- Medium: Opaque watercolor on cotton
- Dimensions: 14 x 72-1/2 in. (35.6 x 184.2 cm)
- Credit Line: The Norton Simon Foundation, Gift of Mr. Norton Simon
- Accession Number: F.1983.27.P
- Copyright: © The Norton Simon Foundation
Object Information
Traversing the Globe through Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts
- J. Paul Getty Museum, 2016-01-26 to 2016-06-26
The Art of Play: Games and Amusements
- Norton Simon Museum, 2001-08-03 to 2001-12-03
Treasures from the Himalayas: Sacred Treasures from Tibet, Nepal and Northern India
- Norton Simon Museum, 2003-05-30 to 2003-10-27
Painting and Sculpture from Nepal, Tibet and Northwest India
- Norton Simon Museum, 1994-09-22 to 1997-06-01
Nepalese Ragamala Paintings
- Norton Simon Museum, 1987-04-09 to 1987-09-27
- Fisher, Robert E., Asian Art: Selections from the Norton Simon Museum, fig. 12 pp. 56-57
- Pal, Pratapaditya, Asian Art at the Norton Simon Museum, Volume 2: Art from the Himalayas & China, 2003, no. 145 pp. 18, 216-217, 264-265
- Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, 2010, cat. 1543 p. 419
- Bryan C. Keene (ed.), Toward a Global Middle Ages, 2019, fig. IV.6 pp. 213-214 ; p. 214 (ill.)
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