Unknown artist (Artist) Sikh School (School of)
Gobind Singh Holding a Hawk, with Two Servants in Attendance

Artwork Detail
This painting most likely depicts Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708),
who was the tenth Sikh Guru and a warrior, poet and philosopher in
addition to being a spirtiual master. As leader of the Sikhs, Gobind
Singh was both a divine authority and a strong military leader who
successfully resisted the advances of the Mughal Empire under
Aurangzeb (1618-1707). Gobind Singh acted as an Emperor and
held court where he met with rajas and aristocrats as well as the
poor and needy. He became known as chittian bajanvala (Master of
the White Hawk) due to the white falcon that he carried with him,
which often appears in depictions of him to indicate his identity and
also to symbolise his military might. Here he sits under a canopy,
a traditional marker of authority, wearing a dastar (turban) and
holding the kirpan, a ceremonial sword. In addition to symbolising
his dignity and power, these accessories are also physical
identifiers of the Khalsa, the name given to all Sikhs initiated
through the sacred Amrit ceremony that was instituted by Gobind
Singh in 1699.
- Title
- Gobind Singh Holding a Hawk, with Two Servants in Attendance
- Artist/creator
- Production date
- circa 1850
- Medium
- tempera
- Dimensions
- 242 x 189 mm
- Credit line
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki
- Accession no
- U/208
- Copyright
- No known copyright restrictions
- Department
- International Art
- Display status
- Not on display
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