-For the first time in book form, the popular images of devotion and
worship, commissioned by ordinary devotees of Pushti Marg, have been
explored for their artistic virtues -Featuring an extensive collection
of popular manorath paintings Art collector Anil Relia had always
admired the miniature paintings of the Nathdwara school, which grew out
of the religious devotion of the Pushti Marg ('Path of Grace'). On one
of his trips to this pilgrimage town, he encountered manorath paintings,
whose unusual visual elements attracted his attention immediately.
Originally part of the Pushti Marg popular culture, manorath paintings
were often commissioned by devout followers as an indelible record of a
pilgrimage trip to Nathdwara. Manorath ('mind's vehicle') paintings are
a visual representation of the pilgrim's wish to enter into mutual
communication with a divine Pushti Marg icon. The popular manoraths in
this collection, which employ mixed media and photo-realism techniques,
illustrate worshippers in the presence of Shrinathji. These images had a
deep emotional resonance for worshippers because they embodied both the
corporeal pilgrimage to Nathdwara as well as the inner devotional
experience. As author Isabella Nardi demonstrates, the paintings in this
collection are not merely souvenirs of a pilgrimage trip; they represent
the worshipper's journey to Nathdwara for a darshan with their beloved
and revered deity. With pilgrims as patrons, these manoraths are truly
portraits of devotion. Published in association with Archer Art Gallery,
Ahmedabad.
