Stencils Depicting Episodes from Hindu Mythology

These nineteenth-century stencils were perhaps used as an aid in creating the well-known wall murals in Shekhawati mansions in Rajasthan. While the murals were hand-painted, many do show traces of recurring designs, possibly replicated with stencils.

Each of these stencils draws from themes of Hindu mythology, depicting, among other things, a rakshasa (a demon on Earth), Vishnu in the Matsya (fish) avatar, asuras (celestial demons), Sheshanaga (the king of serpent-like beings), and Hayagriva (the demon who stole the Vedas).