A Charmer Invoking Spirits

$55
Item Code: MP65
Specifications:
Water Color painting on Paper, with 24 carat gold
Dimensions 5.5" X 9.0"
Handmade
Handmade
Free delivery
Free delivery
Fully insured
Fully insured
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
Fair trade
Fair trade
Black arts played as significant a role in medieval life as played the shrines of Sufis and other spiritual beings. People suffering from various maladies and day-today problems of material life as much resorted to magicians and charmers for redemption from such ailments as they resorted to Sufis, yogis, saints and other holy persons for their spiritual well being. The charmers and practitioners of black arts worked on the strength of unholy spirits whom they invoked, appeased, pleased and ultimately commanded to serve their errands. Wine, perfumes, meat, betel leaves and such other means of sensual intensification were usually used in invoking these spirits.

A cremation ground, a barren land echoing with horrifying sounds, a far off solitary river bank, or an abandoned and worn out castle which is known to have consumed all its dwellers were considered as the appropriate sites for invoking these spirits. They were believed to remain active the hour of sunset to late midnight. Hence, those who sought to appease these spirits invoked them only after sunset scheduling the hour of their worship when the spirit they sought to invoke was known to become active.

The figure portrayed here relates to a charmer seeking to invoke spirits to his errand beside a solitary riverbank. He might be invoking some spirit related to rivers and waters. He holds a cask of wine in both his hands and is in readiness to pour its contents to make his offerings. He is in a meditative posture apparently commemorating the spirit he is seeking to invoke. The sun has set and the sky is tinted with blood red. Charmers were known to wear a black or green robe or costume. The artist has preferred to clad his figure in green but with a typical Turkey cap. He has deep meditative eyes, long moustaches and a naturally grown beard. Save a string of beads and an amulet he does not have any other ornaments. His gown has a typical round pocket, which seems to have another string of black beads.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of ancient Indian literature. Dr Daljeet is the chief curator of the Visual Arts Gallery at the National Museum of India, New Delhi. They have both collaborated on numerous books on Indian art and culture.

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