Portrait of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra

Description

Originally printed at the Ravi Varma Press, this chromolithograph brought sacred imagery directly into the homes of ordinary devotees across India. Over the decades, it found its way into private collections and temple archives, serving as a cherished object of domestic and communal worship.

Historical context

This vibrant chromolithograph immortalizes the holy triad of Puri, consisting of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and their sister Subhadra. Rendered through the visionary press established by Raja Ravi Varma, the artwork bridges the divine and the mortal, making sacred darsana accessible beyond the temple walls. The deities are depicted with their characteristic large, unblinking eyes and radiant, stylized forms, draped in richly patterned garments against a dramatic crimson backdrop. Below them, smaller manifestations of divine avatars sit in quiet contemplation. For generations of worshippers, this print has been a portal to the eternal spirit of the Rath Yatra, invoking deep feelings of devotion, surrender, and spiritual homecoming in every heart that gazes upon it.