Wrestlers, illustrating the musical mode Raga Malava

Gouache on paper.

The musical mode Malava is shown as a fair-skinned princely wrestler grappling with his darker opponent. He wears multiple Hindu tilakmarks and much jewellery, and a third wrestler stands by holding his turban for him. Wrestling was a popular sport among the nobility in Mughal times, and the larger courts maintained teams of Jethis or professional wrestlers.

To view a high-resolution version of this image and for further information please visit the Yousef Jameel Online Centre at the Ashmolean.