The Salvation of the Elephant (Gaj Mokasha) / Artist Unknown, India

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Record Details

Accession Number
2010/2.27
Title
The Salvation of the Elephant (Gaj Mokasha)
Artist Nationality
Indian
Medium and Support
paint on canvas
Object Creation Date
circa 1815
Object Creation Place
Asia (continent)
India (nation)
Creation Place 1
Asia (continent)
Creation Place 2
India (nation)
Dimensions
19 cm x 25.5 cm (7 1/2 in. x 10 1/16 in.)
Century
19th century
Primary Object Classification
Painting
Primary Object Type
figures on landscape
Secondary Object Classification
Painting
Secondary Object Type
narrative painting
Physical Description
An elephant seems to walk on water from the bottom right corner of the composition, rising towards Vishnu in the upper left with a single lotus flower in its trunk. Vishnu, with 4 arms, steps on green hills surrounding the lotus covered pond, bending towards the elephant. Garuda flies in the upper right.
Subject Matter
The story of Gajendra moksha appears in the Bhagavatha Purana. It tells the story of an elephant named Gajendre who prays to vishnu for help when struggling with a water creature (crocodile, monster). Gajendra makes an offering of a lotus flower with his trunk. The prayers made by Gajendra became a famous hymn in praise of Lord Vishnu called Gajendra Stuthi. Seeing His devotee in distress, Lord Vishnu kills the crocodile and saves Gajendra.
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Technical Details

Image Size
3283 x 2283
File Size
391 KB
Record
2010/2.27
Link to this Item
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2010-sl-2.27/2010_2.27.jpg

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Full citation
"The Salvation of the Elephant (Gaj Mokasha); Artist Unknown, India." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-2010-sl-2.27/2010_2.27.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed March 29, 2024.
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