Tulādāna

Mineral Pigments on Canvas
76.2 x 104.14 cm
2013

This painting recreates the historic Tulādān Paubha depicting the ceremonial weighing of Chakravartendra Malla, son of King Pratap Malla. The original seventeenth-century work, now outside Nepal, is regarded as one of the most significant narrative paintings of the Malla period, documenting royal ritual, courtly hierarchy, and the architectural grandeur of the Kathmandu Valley.

Working from a low-resolution photographic reference, Sundar Bajracharya carefully reconstructs the layered temple architecture, ceremonial processions, celestial assemblies, and central weighing pavilion that define the original composition. More than a reproduction, the work functions as an act of cultural preservation, restoring an important historical image into Nepal’s living Paubha tradition.

Sundar Bajracharya

Visual Artist

Beginning his journey in 1986 under the guidance of Mukti Singh Thapa, a contemporary Thanka painter, he has become one of the prominent practitioners of traditional Paubha painting in Nepal. His work reflects a deep dedication to preserving the discipline and spiritual essence of the tradition.