Indra consulting with his Preceptor in the Assembly of the Gods

This exquisite Pahari miniature painting is a classic folio directly related to the great master artist Purkhu of Kangra, who practiced his craft during the golden age of the Kangra court, under Raja Sansar Chand. The piece brings to life a holy mythological tale, portraying the gods’ king Indra looking for the right advice from his divine teacher and guru of deities Brihaspati amidst the assembly. The composition of the painting beautifully divides the artwork into specific segments that highlight the majestic architectural features and the main story events. The assembly takes place against a prominent backdrop of a magnificent ensemble of white marble palaces and beautiful pavilions under the sky painted with beautiful swirling grey and white clouds, suggesting the celestial nature of the place. In the bottom part of the painting, the throne of Indra is seen under a small canopy. Indra can be distinguished by the crown he wears and by his respectful manner. He is looking at Brihaspati who sits opposite Indra and explains his wise thoughts. Around the central discussion there is a huge semi-circle of lesser gods, clients, and celestial attendants all seen kneeling or standing. In the extreme right section of the court, celestial musicians are playing curved horns and different winds, resulting in the importance of the event. Such watchmen can be seen in the lower part of the court wearing fully equipped arms and traditional wear from Pahari, establishing contact between the legend and the life of the Kangra court in the 1820s. This folio of Purkhu works on various techniques. The divine and human figures are represented in the special carved formations. He shows typical features - right developed shapes with long almond-like eyes, heavy decorative cheeks, thick mustaches, and advanced faces. The colors used suggest considerable tint of minerals. Thus, the white palace building has great contrast with the bright red and orange colors as well as the deep green colors of the clothing of the figures. Only minor gold layers make the crowns, ornaments, and boundaries unique in the picture. The artwork was later recorded as a model piece of Pahari miniature painting and is reflected in scholarly art history research as documented in the academic journal JSTOR . After the royal Pahari collections were distributed in the 19th and 20th centuries, the painting was removed from its family storage in the region and brought into public custody into the state capital collection where it is kept and displayed at the Art Museum and the Government Museum, Chandigarh.