Vallabha Sampradaya

ECSAS Vienna 2020.
Focusing on the devotional sect of Pushtimarg, this panel encourages a diversity of papers to stimulate new debates on the significance of the sect vis-à-vis its social histories, devotional practices, theologies, literatures, visual and performing arts from the 15 th century up to the present day.

Through an analysis of three images of the Vallabha Sampradaya, this paper demonstrates the importance
of this sect and its visual sources in our understanding of the internal politics at the court of Udaipur.
The study  concentrates on three manorath paintings which maybe considered as visual history
connecting them with actual visits of rulers to the Nathdwara temple. It  also suggests a
shifting power equation at the court of Udaipur at the time of Bhupal Singh  When he  was appointed as the
de-facto ruler of Udaipur in 1921 by the colonial government during the life time of his father, Fateh Singh
who continued to remain the titular Maharana. It also highlights  the importance
of the officiating Goswamis (priests) in legitimizing royal power.
The paintings that will be considered for analysis are two manoraths in the collection of the City Palace of
Udaipur – one by artist Sukhdev  and the other by Laxmilal Goud
depicting Maharana Fateh Singh along with Bhupal Singh. A third image, from a private
collection, also depicts the same visit but uses a different iconography to convey a shift in power.
This study will lead us to understand how such images were used
by Bhupal Singh to shape and legitimize his position.