Nala and Damayanti in exile in the forest. Chromolithograph.

Swayam-vara was a pre-marriage ceremony held in a form of a tournament from which girls of noble birth could chose a husband

The story of Nala and Damayantī originates from the Mahābhārata. Damayantī was the daughter of Bhīma, King of Vidarbha and wife of Nala. Damayantī held a swayam-vara where despite the fact four deities, Indra, Agni, Varuna and Yama assumed the form of Nala, Damayantī still chose Nala and they lived happily. Kali, a personification of the Kali or iron age arrived too late for the swayam-vara and swore revenge, so determined by jealousy was Kali that he tricked Nala via gambling his lifestyle and success away, hence the banishment to the forest with Damayantī

Calcutta (185 Bowbazar Street) : Calcutta Art Studio

1 print : chromolithograph ; border 25.5 x 36.7 cm

Nala - Damayan. Copyright reserved. Lettering also in Devanagari script

Wellcome Collection 26209i