Sawantwadi Lacquerwares – Dasavatara Ganjifa
Traditional Dasavatara Ganjifa from Sawantwadi Palace in Maharashtra.
Above: The location of Sawantwadi, Maharashtra.
Made at Sawantwadi Palace in Maharashtra by Sawantwadi Lacquerwares[1], this Dasavatara Ganjifa pack has ten suits representing the ten incarnations of Vishnu.
Sawantwadi Lacquerwares was established in 1971 by Rajesaheb Lt. Col. Shivram Sawant Bhonsle and Rajmata Satvashiladevi Bhonsle to revive Ganjifa and lacquerware[2]. Its workshop is at Sawantwadi Palace, where artisans continue making the cards under the Sawantwadi Lacquerwares name[1].
Above: The hand-painted lacquered box for the Dasavatara Ganjifa pack, decorated with Hindu figures and floral borders.
The artisans hand-paint and lacquer the cards. Foliage and repeated circles form borders around the circular fields, while the figures and symbols are arranged above lotus-like platforms.
The pack follows the standard Dashavatara Ganjifa composition of 120 cards in ten suits of twelve. Each suit has ten numeral cards and two court cards: the lower one is the pradhan (minister), shown on horseback, while the higher one is the raja (king), showing the avatar.
| Avatar | Pip sign | Background colour |
|---|---|---|
| Matsya | Fish | Red |
| Kurma | Tortoise | Red |
| Varaha | Boar | Yellow |
| Narasimha (Nrusinha) | Lions | Green |
| Vamana (Waman) | Water vessels | Green |
| Parashurama (Parshuram) | Axes | Red |
| Rama (Ram) | Bows and arrows | Yellow |
| Krishna | Round quoit or chakra discs | Red |
| Buddha | Conch shells | Black |
| Kalki (Kalanki) | Swords | Black |
Dasavatara Ganjifa cards from Sawantwadi
Matsya
Pip sign: fish
Above: The Matsya raja and pradhan, with fish emblems on a red ground.
Above: The remaining Matsya numeral cards, each carrying a painted fish.
Kurma
Pip sign: tortoise
Above: The Kurma raja and pradhan, with tortoise emblems in the numeral cards.
Above: The remaining Kurma numeral cards, marked by repeated tortoises.
Varaha
Pip sign: boar
Above: The Varaha raja and pradhan, with boar emblems beginning the numeral sequence.
Above: The remaining Varaha numeral cards, marked with repeated boar figures.
Narasimha
Pip sign: lions
Above: The Narasimha raja and pradhan, with lion emblems in the numeral cards.
Above: The remaining Narasimha numeral cards, with repeated lions arranged around the circular field.
Vamana
Pip sign: water vessels
Above: The Vamana raja and pradhan, with vessel emblems on a green ground.
Above: The remaining Vamana numeral cards, filled with repeated vessels.
Parashurama
Pip sign: axes
Above: The Parashurama raja and pradhan, with axe emblems on a red ground.
Above: The remaining Parashurama numeral cards, arranged as repeated axes.
Rama
Pip sign: bows and arrows
Above: The Rama raja and pradhan, with bow-and-arrow emblems on a yellow ground.
Above: The remaining Rama numeral cards, each marked by a bow.
Krishna
Pip sign: chakra discs
Above: The Krishna raja and pradhan, accompanied by four round-plate numeral cards.
Above: The remaining Krishna numeral cards, each marked with a round plate.
Buddha
Pip sign: conch shells
Above: The Buddha raja and pradhan, with pale conch shells on a black ground.
Above: The remaining Buddha numeral cards, each carrying a conch shell.
Kalki
Pip sign: swords
Above: The Kalki raja and pradhan, with swords on the court cards and numeral cards.
Above: The remaining Kalki numeral cards, each carrying a sword.
By Adam Wintle
Thailand • Member since March 15, 1997
Adam has been involved in developing the site as well as reviewing new decks and conducting research. He is particularly interested in innovation, Kickstarter and East Asian cards. He is a member of the IPCS, 52 Plus Joker, and webmaster of the EPCS.
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