The world of the Gonds
2017
- Medium
- synthetic polymer paint on canvas
- Measurements
- 125.0 × 91.0 cm
- Accession Number
- 2019.661
- Department
- Asian Art
- Credit Line
- National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2019
© Venkat Shyam, courtesy of Minhazz Majumdar - Gallery location
- Gallery 18
Level 3, NGV Australia - About this work
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The enormous multicoloured cat here is Mārjāra, the vahana (vehicle) of the Hindu folk goddess Shashthi. Shashthi is venerated as the protector of children and is evoked during birth to protect mother and child. Mārjāra is worshipped on the sixth day of the month and on the sixth day of a child’s life, when it is believed Mārjāra visits the mother and newborn to bless them. She is also the deity of fertility, and is prayed to by people unable to conceive, as well as farmers wishing for fertile earth for their crops. The Gond people are one of India’s largest indigenous groups, living in the central state of Madhya Pradesh and its surrounding regions.