Anita Bharat Shah
Niyogi Books proudly presents its latest publication on Artworks inspired by Shrinathji of Nathdwara titled Colours of Devotion: The Legendary Paintings and Textiles of the Vallabha Sampradaya, 1500-1900 by Anita Bhart Shah.
In the late 17th century, during the reign of the iconoclastic Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, the guardians of the idol of Srinathji moved it away from a temple in Vrindavan to save it from destruction. When the chariot carrying the deity got stuck at Sihar in Mewar, Rajasthan, the ruler Maharana Rajsingh of Mewar believed it was a sign that Srinathji wanted to reside there and a temple was built, after which a town called Nathdwara developed around the temple. Colours of Devotion relates to the history of the Vallabha Sampradaya, the devotees of Srinathji, and the exquisite paintings and textiles commissioned by the followers of the Pushti Marg faith.
Commenting on the book, author of the book Anita Bharat Shah said, Colours of Devotion describes how the saint Vallabhacharya and his polymath son, Vithalnathji’s profound philosophy inspired the creation of not only paintings and pichvais, but also a treasure trove of literature, poetry, Haveli sangeet, dance and a plethora of art forms. The book highlights that Indian fine arts are meant to be viewed beyond their aesthetic appeal, as they are designed to evoke and transmit a metaphysical vision through space and time, igniting introspective intellectual thought that has the power to lead the individual towards self-realization. The book offers a panoramic cultural and sociological perspective on how artistic traditions have been carried forward through generations. It took seven years of extensive research and travel to different places to write this book. Overall, it offers an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the cultural significance of Indian art, and its role in shaping our spiritual and intellectual lives for centuries.
Commenting on the book, COO of Niyogi Books Trisha De Niyogi said, ‘Colours of Devotion is a very special work. Written by Dr Anita Bharat Shah, a devotee of Pushti Marg and an avid art collector, the book offers a unique perspective on the history and artworks of the Vallabha Sampradaya. It also throws light on the origin of the most important pre-Mughal manuscript, Palam Dispersed Bhagavad Puran, and that of Golden and Kalamkari pichvais. The beautiful images add to the overall splendour of the book.’
