Important Notice

Untitled (Apna Gaon)
Signed in Devnagari and dated '04' (lower centre)
2004
Acrylic on canvas
73.5 x 194.5 in (186.6 x 494 cm)

PROVENANCE:
Private Collection, Kerala

This lot will be shipped in a roll


Bada Dev is an important Gond deity, who resides in a saja tree according to the Gonds. A folktale narrates the story of seven Gond brothers who sowed jute seeds in the fields. The jute began to grow soon after. One day, a man on a horse rode through the fields, trampling the crops. This enraged the six older brothers, who attacked the horseman. To evade their attacks, he rode into a saja tree. The Gonds realised that it was Bada Dev in disguise, and tried to appease him with prayers, wine and delicious offerings. The youngest Gond brother felled a bough from a khirsani tree and made a one-string instrument, called bana. Playing the bana, he sang songs of praise which resounded through the jungle. This pleased Bada Dev, who emerged from the tree and blessed him. He accepted the offerings and vanished once again into the saja tree.

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