Chromolithographic Devotional Print | Pune, Maharashtra, 1886
Key Features
The Man-Lion Avatar of Divine Justice
This dramatic late-19th-century print captures Narasimha, the ferocious man-lion incarnation of Vishnu, at the climactic moment of cosmic retribution. Neither man nor beast, neither god nor demon, Narasimha manifests precisely to bypass the invincible protections won by the demon king Hiranyakashipu through extreme yogic austerities. Seated upon Narasimha’s lap-neither indoors nor outdoors, neither day nor night—the tyrant meets his destined end, torn apart by divine claws rather than weapons.
Triumph of Bhakti over Arrogance
At the heart of this image lies the moral axis of the bhakti tradition. Hiranyakashipu’s crime was not merely tyranny, but his relentless persecution of his own son Prahlada, an unwavering devotee of Vishnu. Prahlada stands as a witness to the miracle, hands joined in anjali (veneration), embodying surrender, faith, and the ultimate victory of devotion over ego and power.
A Victorian-Era Sacred Setting
Distinctive to this 1886 Pune print is its Victorian architectural imagination. The palace courtyard is rendered with ornate scrollwork, decorative brackets, and spatial depth influenced by colonial-era aesthetics. This fusion of traditional Hindu mythology with 19th-century visual language reflects how sacred narratives were re-imagined for a rapidly modernizing Indian audience.
Chromolithographic Craftsmanship
Produced as a chromolithographic print with varnish, this work exemplifies the height of Indian print culture in the late 1800s. The medium allowed for rich color saturation, sharp detail, and mass circulation-making powerful mythological imagery accessible to homes, temples, and public spaces across western India.
18 × 24 in Museum-Grade Reproduction
This 18 × 24 inch poster faithfully reproduces the original chromolithograph at a commanding scale. Printed on 350 GSM archival matte paper, it preserves tonal depth, line clarity, and historical character, making it suitable for long-term display.
Why You’ll Love It
This poster is more than a mythological scene-it is a visual theology of divine timing and moral balance. Narasimha’s terrifying grace reminds us that justice arrives in forms beyond logic, precisely when arrogance believes itself invincible. A compelling piece for devotees of Vishnu, students of Hindu mythology, and collectors of historic Indian prints.
Order Now
Own a powerful example of late-19th-century Indian devotional art-where myth, faith, and colonial-era visual culture intersect.
Available as an 18 × 24 inch poster, with framed and unframed options, exclusively at The Soma Store.
