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Photo © President and Fellows of Harvard College
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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1972.348
Title
Krishna Wins the Daughter of Jambavan, an illustration from the Bhagavata Purana
Other Titles
Series/Book Title: Bhagavata Purana
Classification
Paintings
Work Type
painting
Date
early 18th century
Places
Creation Place: South Asia, India, Rajasthan, Bikaner
Culture
Indian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/215394

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Opaque watercolor, gold and metallic gray watercolor on paper
Dimensions
22.86 x 31.59 cm (9 x 12 7/16 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of John Kenneth Galbraith
Accession Year
1972
Object Number
1972.348
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
This painting depicts the episode of Jambavan, king of the bears, offering his daughter, Jambavati, to Krishna for marriage. This episode from the tenth book of the Bhagavata Purana recounts the tale of the precious diamond named Syamantaka. Surya, the sun god, had given the diamond to the Yadava governor Satrajit. Satrajit gave it to his brother and counselor, Prasena. During a hunt, Prasena was killed by a lion who took the jewel. The lion then entered Jambavan’s cave, where it met its demise, and Jambavan gained possession of the diamond. In the meantime, Krishna was falsely accused of stealing the diamond. To clear his name, Krishna went on an excursion and discovered what happened to Prasena and the diamond. He came across Jambavan and fought with him for twenty-eight days until the bear-king was defeated. Jambavan returned the diamond to Krishna and offered his daughter’s hand in marriage. Jambavati is one of the Ashtabharya, the eight principal queen-consorts of Krishna. Rajput, Rajasthani, Bikaner School.

Publication History

  • Stuart Cary Welch and Milo Cleveland Beach, Gods, Thrones, and Peacocks Northern Indian Painting from Two Traditions, exh. cat., Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (New York, NY, 1965), page 75/figure 29

Exhibition History

  • Gods, Thrones, and Peacocks - Revisited: Northern Indian Miniatures from two Traditions, Fifteenth to Nineteenth Centuries, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 03/31/1990 - 06/10/1990
  • From India's Hills and Plains: Rajput Painting from the Punjab and Rajasthan, 17th through 19th Centuries, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 09/04/1993 - 10/31/1993
  • Rasika, the Discerning Connoisseur: Indian Paintings from the John Kenneth Galbraith Collection, Harvard University Art Museums, Cambridge, 01/31/1998 - 04/05/1998

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu