Art Print – “Nachiketa”: The Boy Who Met Yama

Provenance

Nachiketa draws on the story of the young seeker from the Katha Upanishad, who came face to face with Yama, the God of Death. In the telling associated with Diwali, Nachiketa imagined Yama to be as dark and terrifying as the new-moon night of Amavasya, and was astonished to find him calm, dignified and radiant – a reminder that the darkness of Amavasya is a night of spiritual awakening rather than fear.

The young Nachiketa kneels on a red carpet with his palms joined, looking up at Yama, who sits on a gilded throne beneath a domed canopy. Yama holds a noose and a staff, his dark skin set off by a jewelled crown and richly patterned garments, while his black buffalo rests at his feet and an attendant stands behind him. A dark disc hangs in the deep green sky above a flowering tree, evoking the moonless night of the tale.

Deep green, red, black and ivory are enriched with fine gilded detailing on the canopy, throne, jewellery and floral border. The calm, measured exchange between the seated god and the kneeling boy gives the work a contemplative stillness, in keeping with its message of understanding over fear.