Symbolic use of animals in mughal miniature paintings: An Analysis

Abstract

This study investigates how animals were used symbolically in Mughal miniature paintings, a rich creative legacy that reflected a fusion of Central Asian, Persian, and Indian cultures. Animals were integral to the Mughal Empire's unique visual language, which was used to communicate intricate stories. This study investigates the intentional use of animals as symbols for power, religion, and sociocultural relationships. The study illustrates how representations of tigers, elephants, birds, and other animals conveyed political power, religious symbolism, and the nuances of courtly life.For example, gazelles or deer frequently feature in scenes of love and beauty, reflecting the aesthetic values of the time, whereas lions stand for authority, power, and dignity. Peacocks, which in Hindu symbolism stand in for Krishna, serve as another example of the Mughal court's religious hybridization. The research uses visual analysis of Mughal miniatures kept in museums in addition to primary texts including the Akbarnama, Baburnama, and Tuzk-e-Jahangiri.

In order to reveal the rich meaning hidden in these artworks, this study's methodology combines formal art historical analysis with multidisciplinary viewpoints in a qualitative manner. The results highlight the complex interactions between politics, religion, art, and culture in Mughal miniature paintings and provide a clearer picture of how the court's ideals were reflected in and reinforced by animals.