Calendar

Indian popular religious prints have been published for nearly a century, first by German presses, later by Indian ones. The prints may take the form of calendars, posters, or simply images. The style of the representations is European. In the beginning they were Hindu images, but are now acquiring elements both of folk art and a romantic secularism. It is a living art currently influenced by the movie industry and non-Hindu religions. The images are a vehicle for advertising and are also used for religious purposes.

calendar art; popular religious art

Rectangular calendar print depicting Sri Daksinamurti, a four-armed male, in green landscape flanked by four seated worshippers with hands clasped in prayer and dressed in white. Daksinamurti is wearing a leopard skin around his waist and is seated on a deer throne under a banyan tree. He is adorned with stoned gold jewelry on his head, neck, arms, wrists, legs and ankles. His foot on left is resting on back of small male figure who is entwined with a cobra. Four hands each holds an object: fire; stack of long cards tied with cord; string of pearls; last hand has palm facing outwards while fingers make a sign. "The Mettur Chemical & Industrial Corporation" appears at top and bottom.