Razmnama the book of war

See all 3 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Exhibition brings together elaborately illustrated pages from ancient indian epic the book of war among the treasures of the john frederick lewis collection of the free library of philadelphias rare book department are twentyfive elaborately illustrated folios from a centuriesold mughal manuscript known as the razmnama literally, book of war. Here, in an unusual instance of cooperation, six gods and an asura use the serpent vasuki as a rope and mount. Razmnama is the persian translation of mahabharata from the mughal emperor akbars court. Like the persian epic, shahnama book of kings, the razmnama book of war sets down the basic principles of battle, victory and defeat. The challenge was in painting the epic characters in mughal settings and clothes. This imperial illustrated manuscript with 168 paintings is now in the maharaja sawai man singh ii museum in jaipur. Razmnama or razmnameh the book of war, the 17th century persian language translation of one of the great hindu epics of india, the mahabharata, created for mughal emperor, akbar.

Folios from the razmnama in the rare book department, october 21st to november 10th. Razmnama book of war, the copiously illustrated imperial manuscript. Location edit some believe that the village named ekachakra, or kaiwara where the pandavas finally settled after the escape from the murderattempt, belonged to the kingdom of kichaka. They produced a set of four large volumes illustrated by leading masters of the mughal court for his personal library. The sanskrit word bhaara means war, as in the play karnabhaara.

It emerged from akbars maktab khana translation bureau from fatehpur sikri, where a team of translators worked hard on converting indian texts to persian. Titled the razmnama book of war, the copiously illustrated imperial manuscriptcompleted between 1584 and 1586is housed in the city palace museum in jaipur. Subcategories this category has the following 3 subcategories, out of 3 total. It emerged from akbars maktab khana translation bureau from fatehpur sikri, where a. Razmnama a mahabharata for a mughal king society for. The razmnama book of war is the persianlanguage version of the indian epic the mahabharata, one of the two most important epics in indian culture the other is the ramayana, an illustrated page from which appears above. Akbar called this the razmnama or book of war on account of the great conflict at the heart of the narrative. The free library of philadelphias mughal razmnama folios affords a rare opportunity to explore, through the lens of a single manuscript, an exciting moment of artistic experimentation and cultural exchange, and is the happy result of an ongoing collaboration between two philadelphia institutions. Andha yug is illustrated with paintings from a rare, single manuscript of the razmnama book of war, dated to 15981599.

This illustration comes from the second illustrated copy of the razmnama which was completed between 1598 and 1599. Among the many treasures of the john fredrick lewis collection in the free library of philadelphia are twentyfive elaborately illustrated folios. Tradition of mughal miniature paintings under akbar rana. The main story of the mahabharata, that of the feuding kauravas and pandavas, is prefaced by tales of earlier epochs when gods upheld cosmic order while asuras antigods strove to destroy it. Information and translations of razmnama in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. This painting, from an imperially commissioned razmnama, depicts a battle in full flight and features karna and arjuna, two of the main. The destruction of dakshas sacrifice, from an illustrated. Created during the reign 15561605 of the great mughal emperor akbar, the razmnama is written in persian, yet it is a translation of the mahabharata, one of the great indian epics of hinduism.

Akbars interest in the culture themes depicted in the ancient sanskrit mahabharata no doubt had much to do with his desire to understand the vedic art of war and indias history of dynastic succession. The razmnama or the book of war is the persian translation of the great hindu epic, the mahabharata. But the illustrations here are from birla razmnama, akbar invited the nobles to copy the text of the razmnama from his court, and three copied have been made as a result. Akbars own illustrated copy of razmnama is called jaipur razmnama. Philadelphia museum of art exhibitions the book of war. The complete manuscript, originally in the collection. Ascribed to fazl, indian, active early 17th century. The mahabharata in arabic and persian by pradip bhattacharya. Fine art prints framed prints canvas prints durga goddess goddess art hindu art divine mother mother goddess ancient aliens. The mughal emperor akbar took a personal interest in the translation project and invited learned men and scholars to participate. At one point during the pandavas twelveyear exile, bhima, the strongest of the five brothers, came upon a weak, ill monkey who. A persian translation of the mahabharata, razmnama means book of war. Titled the razmnama book of war, the copiously illustrated imperial manuscriptcompleted between 1584 and 1586is housed in the city palace museum in jaipur ag 1690, india, where it has remained, in recent decades, offlimits to historians and art historians alike. The razmnama or book of war was completed between 158284.

It became known by its persian title razmnama book of war. Disguised vishnu and a brahman, folio from a razmnama the. Literature, the fine arts, music and cuisine made akbars capital a magical city. This early mughal period painting comes from an illustrated imperial manuscript of the razmnama, a persian translation of the great hindu epic the mahabharata. The gods and asuras churn the ocean of milk digital. Mahabharatas persian translation by akbar dear reader, recently i came across the word razmnama which, on further investigation i learnt, was the persian name given to the translation of the epic mahabharata that had been started initially by the mughal emperor akbar.

The mughal book of war a persian translation of the. There are 168 paintings in akbars copy the ramayana translation has 176. Disguised vishnu and a brahman, folio from a razmnama the book of war creator. Page from a dispersed manuscript of the razmnama book of war, opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, deccan region, probably made in burhanpur, madhya pradesh, 16161617 see more. The razmnama book of war was then transcribed in stunning calligraphy and illustrated with 168 paintings. Arjuna beheading karna with an anjalike weapon from the. About the book razmnama or the book of war is the persian translation of the great hindu epic, the mahabharata. Miniature paintings from south asia princeton university. His creation was called with the name of razmnama means book of war and was a result of deep study and.

A translation and analysis of abulfazls preface to the razmnama by razieh babagolzadeh b. Mahabharata, thus transforming the great indian epic into a mughal courtly text. The mughal emperor akbar took a personal interest in the translation project and invited learned men, wellversed with the work, from all over the country to help some of his best persian scholarcourtiers prepare the most authentic text possible. Some believe that the village named ekachakra, or kaiwara where the pandavas finally settled after the escape from the murderattempt, belonged to the kingdom of kichaka. Illustrated pages, in opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, from a mughal manuscript in the john frederick lewis collection of oriental miniatures, rare book department, free library of philadelphia cover and frontispiece detail. The mughal emperor akbar took a personal interest in the translation project and invited learned men, wellversed with the work, from all over the.

Paintings of the razmnama the book of war exotic india. It was completed by the maktab khana, a translation bureau set up by akbar to translate important sanskrit texts into. Bhima tries to lift hanumans tail additional title. Akbar asked his nobles to get copies made for their own study. It was bound in four lavish volumes and presented to the emperor who named it razmnama, the book of war. Karna slays the kaikeya prince vishoka from a dispersed razmnama book of war ascribed to khemana, indian, ca. Akbar engaged in discourses with theologians belonging to all known religious faiths and especially enjoyed the company of jains and jesuits. He assigned the work to a few officials to translate the sanskrit books rajatarangini, ramayana and mahabharata into the persian language. Arjuna beheading karna with an anjalike weapon from the razmnama book of war arjuna beheading karna with an anjalike weapon from the razmnama book of war, 159899 mughal, reign of akbar, 15561605 indian. The gods and asuras churn the ocean of milk from a dispersed razmnama book of war ascribed to fattu, indian northern india, mughal court manuscript dated by internal colophon to 159899 opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper the free library of philadelphia, rare book department, john frederick lewis collection. List of illustrations list of illustrations 20100528 00. Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper object classification. While scholars have long been aware of the razmnamah and its centrality to mughal.

Documentary to mark akbars birth anniversary allahabad. Razmnama or the book of war is the persian translation of the great hindu epic, the mahabharata. He had a group of scholars of persian and sanskrit translate the text, which was called razmnama the book of war. Prince chandrahasa and a goddess, folio from a razmnama. Paintings of razmnama is the persian translation of one of the great hindu epics of india, the mahabharata. Once complete, the translation was produced in a lavishly. The 18volume treasure trove razmnama book of war is out of the reach for scholars, historians and enthusiasts as the prized possession remains locked in a long, legal battle among the royals. Prince chandrahasa and a goddess, folio from a razmnama the book of war creator. Fri, october 21, 2011 among the many treasures of the john fredrick lewis collection in the free library of philadelphia are twentyfive elaborately illustrated folios from a single mughal manuscript, the razmnama literally. Page from a dispersed manuscript of the razmnama book of war, opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper, deccan region, probably made in burhanpur, madhya pradesh, 16161617. The court poured many resources into producing the translation, and the resulting text, called the razmnamah book of war, remained a seminal literary work in mughal circles for decades. The muslim mughal emperor akbar reigned 15561605, in whose reign this painting was completed, commissioned persian translations of the mahabharata and the other great hindu epic, the ramayana, to. Razmnamah, persian translation of mahabharata, udyoga parvan, i.