Pichhwais: Temple Hangings of the Vallabha Sampradaya

A pichhwai, simply put, is a textile that ‘hangs at the back’, the word derived undoubtedly from Hindi peechhe, ‘behind’, which comes in turn from Sanskrit prishtha, ‘back’. In itself, thus, the word raises no thoughts of figurative work; it bears no necessary relationship with a religious image; there is no suggestion in it of any dimensions. And  yet, through long and established usage, it has come to mean a very special kind of painted textile, most often figurative, a ‘temple hanging’ of a large size, draped behind and thus related to an icon of the Vallabha Sampradaya. To the sacred image, such as that of Krishna as Shrinath-ji, or one of the seven svarupas, it adds a context, provides a visual commentary, as it were. Of course, it decorates in Pushtimarga aesthetics, this is not negative, for adornment is a value in itself - but the pichhwai is more than a painted textile. It may not be an icon in itself but, by association with the sacred image, it becomes charged with power, acquires a potency of its own.