Pithora the Horse-Lord

Central Bhil/Rathwa deity of the Pithora painting tradition (eastern Gujarat / western Madhya Pradesh). The painting is the cult: a vow-discharging ritual fresco depicting the Bhil creation.

Domains

• fertility and prosperity

Powers

• fulfils vows of prosperity in return for a painted wall
• embodies the whole created cosmos in the wall-painting

Sources

• Jain, J. (1984). Painted Myths of Creation: Art and Ritual of an Indian Tribe. New Delhi: Lalit Kala Akademi.
• Tilche, A. (2022). Adivasi Art and Activism. Univ. of Washington Press.