Vintage Indian Hindu Lithograph Print: Gita Sermon (14.375” x 9.75”)

This print depicts a pivotal scene from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the moment of the Gita Updesh (Gita Sermon) where Lord Krishna imparts wisdom to Arjuna on the battlefield just before the start of a great war between two families. Arjuna, a warrior prince, is overcome with despair and moral confusion about fighting his own kin. Lord Krishna shares his philosophical teachings as in the Bhagavad Gita (Songs of God) cover the concepts of duty, righteousness, the nature of existence, and the selfless action.
 
The print is signed Indra A. Sharma in the lower left corner, its title is in Hindi as Gita Updesh (Gita Sermon), and it was printed by the Swastik Picture House of Dehli whose logo is in the lower right corner of the image. 
 
NOTE: THE HINDU SWASTIKA IS NOT THE SAME AS THE NAZI SWASTIKA. Its arms are perpendicular to the page, not diagonal like the Nazi symbol. In Hinduism, the swastika is a sacred and auspicious symbol representing good luck, prosperity, and well-being.
 
The print is a halftone lithograph, a common printing technique for mass-produced religious imagery in India in the past which made them affordable to all. Such prints evolved from use in puja rooms (prayer rooms) to stickers in taxis, shop art, calendars, ticket labels, and other everyday objects, becoming part of the colorful décor of Indian homes and public spaces. They played a significant role in popularizing Hindu iconography. They are still in use today, although modern printing techniques are used to reproduce them and create new interpretations.
 
Most online are asking at least $ 25 per piece for these kinds of prints. 
 
We do not know if it was our grandmother who purchased these in the 1930s or our mother in 1969 or the 1970s. This particular print is in good vintage condition, with only very minor creases along the edges and a slight fold in the lower left corner. We would mail this flat.
 
H 14 3/8” x L 9 3/4”
 
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.