Mata ni Pachedi depicting Meladi Mata (mothergoddess)
19th century CE
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS)
Mumbai, India
This painted scroll originated as a temporary altar for the community that was constantly on the move. The central part of the painted scroll depicts the goddess in one of her many avatars (manifestations) seated on her vahana (vehicle) mesha (male black goat). In front of her is the bhopa (priest) leading the black male goat to be sacrificed to her. The rest of the space is filled with scenes of devotees, mythological episodes and figures of other gods and goddesses. Vihat, Narsingabir and Kalika are the other main deities of Vaghri community.
Traditionally, the Vaghris of Gujarat produce the Mata ni Pachedi (literally meaning ‘behind the Mother Goddess’). It is a rectangular cloth printed and painted in red, black and white. The white is usually the original ground of the material while the other colours are vegetable dyes. This painted cloth is used to create an enclosure for the shrine of the goddess within which she is invoked and appeased.
- Title: Mata ni Pachedi depicting Meladi Mata (mothergoddess)
- Date Created: 19th century CE
- Location: India
- Type: Painted Scroll
- Medium: Cotton with painting and block-printing
- Region: Gujarat
- History of Style of Technique: <i>"I’ve painted my body red, I’ll paint my mind all red Kabir says I’m off to my wedding, I’m marrying the Imperishable One"</i> There is an array of religious textiles with equally varied meanings and usages across different religions in India. These include the temple and domestic shrine decorations, devotional offerings, banners, ritual costumes and narrative scrolls. Large painted textiles have often been used to narrate stories and exploits of deities, saints and heroes to the common folk. One such textile is the Pabuji no Phad (painted scroll of Pabuji) which is used by the Bhopas of Rajasthan to narrate the story of Ramnarayana or Pabuji. In Andhra Pradesh, the kalamkari (painted cloth) is used to narrate the story of gods and goddesses. They are also used to decorate temple walls as well as rathas (temple chariots) at the time of a procession. In Gujarat Mata ni Pachedi (painted and printed cloth depicting the Goddess) is used to create an enclosure for the shrine.
- Accession Number: 56.44
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