Saraswati Pata

With the masterpiece we present today, we owe you some explanations. Pata paintings are a traditional art form characterized by religious and social motifs and imageries. It is a Bangla word that evolved from the Sanskrit patta, meaning cloth. Jain cloth patas are printed on large pieces of cloth and paper and are generally classified into Tantric patas and non-Tantric patas. Among the Tantric works are mantra diagrams. The non-Tantric works are chitra patas, with religious content but not connected to Tantric rites. The paintings seen here enshrine Goddess Saraswati with her vahana (vehicle), the goose, in the centermost block. The other squares have attendants, Jain monks, musicians, and dancers.