Mobility and Festivity: Krishna Icons and the Reunion of the Seven Svarūps of 1739–40

Abstract

This study brings together written and visual evidence of an imposing religious event in the Vallabha sampradāy history: a liturgical performance known as the Festival of the Seven Svarūps. Officiated at the Śrī Nāthjī temple of Nathdwara in 1739–40, it was attended by priests, royalty, and devotees to launch a new period of prosperity and well-being after challenging historical times. This study integrates diverse materials to create a vivid picture of the sumptuous festivity, its organizer (Tilkāyat Govardhanesh, b. 1707), its sponsor (Maharao Durjan Sal of Kota, r. 1723–56), and its sacred participants, the svarūps – the most treasured Krishna icons of the sect. A detailed analysis of the sources will reveal important elements, such as the intertwined network, the Rajput political allies, and the relevance and range of action of the sampradāy in the eighteenth century.