'The false Vaishnav'

This painting is a version of the theme of the confidence trickster masquerading as a Vaishnav holy man and begging for alms. If their trick was discovered, the men would often be beaten and chased out of the village by indignant villagers. The bright green of this painting was achieved by crushing leaves from the Seem (flat bean) plant. Each pigment is mixed immediately after collection with juice from the bel fruit to create a binding medium.