Search results

Start typing

Eastern Encounters pattern
Eastern Encounters

Drawn from the Royal Library's collection of South Asian books and manuscripts

CAT. NO. 56

Hiranyakashipu orders Prahlada be killed

Pahari, Nainsukh family workshop, <i>c</i>.1775–90

Folio from a series depicting the Bhagavata Purana (see cat. no. 51) | Painting in opaque watercolour including gold and silver metallic paints on paper with wide painted margins | 30.5 × 38.5 cm (folio); 23.7 × 31.7 cm (image) | RCIN 925234

Having returned to Hiranayakashipu’s palace, Prahlada again expresses his devotion to his father's enemy Vishnu. Here, in contrast to the affection shown in the previous painting, the demon king throws his son down from the throne in anger and orders that he be killed. The boy’s takhti (writing board), on which is written the name Sri Rama, an invocation to the avatar of Vishnu, has fallen out of his hands. The story continues on the right with the sage Shukracharya consoling Prahlada as he leads him out of the palace.

Peculiar to Pahari series such as this are the wonderfully animated and richly coloured demons, each with heads of different creatures and fat, knobbly bodies. Most are hairy, some have scales and they invariably wear magnificent grimaces through their buck teeth and fangs. 


    The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.