Important Notice

Bengal, Late 19th Century CE
Oil on canvas
28.5 x 40.5 in (72.4 x 102.9 cm)

REGISTERED ANTIQUITY-NON-EXPORTABLE

Provenance: A Private Collection, Aurangabad


The Sarpa Satra depicts a mass annihilation of snakes by King Janamejaya, who was the great-grandson of Arjuna, and son of Parikshit. It succeeds the events narrated in the Mahabharata and tells of Janamejaya's vengeance against all snakes, and in particular, the snake king Takshaka, who killed his father.

Here, the sky is filled with snakes hurtling to the sacrificial fire. Surrounding the fire, rishis chant hymns. Many have gathered to watch the proceedings of the sacrifice (yagna) held by King Janamejaya, who stands in their midst (left) in yellow, with a plume on his head, viewing the proceedings. The style is typical of late 19th century Company School paintings. The house shown on the left features verandahs going around it and a compound wall which delineates the space creating a foreground and background. In the sky also hurtling towards the fire, is Takshaka being drawn to his end along with his attendants.

The painting has adapted an old theme to a modern way of living. The house seen is typical of the late 19th century, with verandahs and a compound wall demarcating it from the open space. Interestingly, the gateway and building are not of palatial or regal proportions, but are regular colonial structures. The figures of attendants in the foreground are also typical of Company School paintings from that era.

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