Vrindavani Vastra Textile
The revered 16th-century Vrindavani Vastra, a priceless silk textile from Assam, is set to be exhibited in the state in 2027. The British Museum in London has agreed to loan the textile for 18 months. This marks a cultural moment as Assam prepares to showcase this historic artifact for the first time on Indian soil.
Historical Significance
The Vrindavani Vastra is a silk cloth woven under the guidance of saint-reformer Srimanta Sankardeva in Assam. It depicts scenes from the life of Lord Krishna and includes texts from Sankardeva’s devotional play, Kaliyadamana. The textile is woven using the complex lampas technique, requiring two weavers simultaneously. It is a rare example of Assam’s rich cultural and religious heritage from the 16th century.
Journey of the Textile to the British Museum
Pieces of the Vrindavani Vastra were taken to Tibet in the 17th or 18th century. British explorers collected these fragments during the 19th and 20th centuries. The India Museum later acquired them and transferred the textile to the British Museum. Around 20 fragments survive , with the British Museum holding a stitched cloth of 12 silk strips measuring over 9 metres long.
Conditions for Loan and Exhibition
The British Museum’s loan is conditional. Assam must build a museum meeting strict environmental and security standards to preserve the textile. The JSW Group has been allotted land in Guwahati to construct this museum under its corporate social responsibility initiative. The President of India must provide a sovereign guarantee ensuring the textile’s safe return within the loan period.
Artistic Features
The textile’s 12 strips feature woven scenes of Krishna’s life, Vishnu’s avataras, captions, and devotional verses. The top section has Chinese damask and brocade with dragon motifs, likely later additions. Metal rings for suspension are attached. The lampas weaving technique used is highly intricate, involving two sets of warps and wefts and two weavers.
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