Lot 71: A NORTH INDIAN OR NEPALESE HAND-PAINTED SURI YANTRA MANDALA TEXTILE, 18TH CENTURY.
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A hand-painted Hindu ritual textile, identified as a Suri yantra mandala, executed in pigments on a square panel of hand-woven cotton cloth. The composition features a central medallion depicting a four-headed deity seated upon a lotus throne, representing Lord Brahma. Surrounding the centre are multiple concentric rings subdivided into cells, each containing hand-written Sanskrit mantras in Devanagari script. These inscriptions typically begin with the sacred syllable Om and conclude with Swaha, dedicated to various celestial bodies and deities including Surya, Chandra, and Budha. The four corners are occupied by seated multi-armed figures on pedestals, likely representing directional guardians or planetary deities. A notable symbol in the lower right quadrant depicts a crescent moon containing a deer head, associated with the moon god Chandra. The diagram is enclosed within a decorative yellow border featuring repeating red and white lotus motifs.
Approximately 85 x 83cm
Condition report:
The textile exhibits signs of age and use including general darkening and discolouration of the cotton ground. There are prominent brown stains near the upper and lower central regions. A horizontal crease is present through the centre. The edges are unfinished and show fraying. There is minor pigment loss and fading, although the inscriptions remain largely legible.
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