The Sanskrit word ‘Manjusa’ means ‘box’, primarily made of bamboo, jute straws and papers, utilised for the purpose of storing religious paraphernalia was the origin point of the famous Manjusha paintings. Murals of the folklore of bihula-bishahari were hand painted on these boxes, the lore was of ‘Bihula’ who saved her husband from the bishahari’s wrath and a snake-bite. Anga Pradesh (presently Bhagalpur in Bihar), the birthplace of both the folklore and of the ancient art form, housed the two castes of artisans, Kumbhakar and Malakar, who carved and painted these masterpieces. Manjusha paintings are not only India’s most ancient art form but also the only sequential art form, which earned it the name of ‘Scroll art’.
Manjusha paintings generally consist of a limited colour palette, each colour signifying a value. Pink is used to depict relations and care, yellow for youth, happiness and optimism, green to portray nature and health. Apart from the colour schemes, the second important element in these paintings are their elaborate border styles.
The various borders used in the Manjusha painting
The paintings are first sketched using green or black ink and then filled in. In the traditional method, rulers and instruments are forsaken to maintain the rawness of the painting. The distinct feature of these paintings are the human figurines in the shape of the letter ‘X’, facial details include big eyes but no ears.
Art and culture go hand in hand, one cannot thrive without the other. From the cave paintings, to sculptures to ancient craftwork, all serve as a source of knowledge, culture and traditions. Manjusha paintings vividly reflect the history of Anga Pradesh (Mahajanapada). Its historical significance is at par with that of Madhubani paintings. The Bihar government with the support of local artisans have been able to revive this art form to the point of international fame. Additionally, the Manjusha paintings are soon going to reflect on clothes like sarees, shirts and salwar suits.
