Skip to content
AC
Browse articles

The Edificial Pattern of the Marwari’s Dwelling and their Frescoes with special reference to Modi Haveli, Jhunjhunu

By Tanuja Singh

Vol. 392015pp. 34–42English

Summary

The Modi Haveli in Jhunjhunu, built between 1885-1895 by the wealthy Marwari merchant Mohanlal Ishwar Das Modi, exemplifies the architectural and artistic heritage of Shekhawati’s Havelis. Constructed with a common edificial pattern prioritizing utility, durability, and aesthetics, the double-storied Haveli features 365 windows and a spatial hierarchy influenced by climate, resources, religious practices, and social norms. Its layout includes an outer and inner chowk (courtyard), transitional poli (space), and intricate frescoes depicting Hindu deities, particularly Krishna in amorous aspects with gopis, alongside motifs of elephants, horse riders, and Marwari patrons. The outer chowk’s walls display frescoes of Gopinath ji, the patron deity, while the inner chowk’s tibari (semi-covered space) reflects the purdah system, with small lattice windows for women’s seclusion. The entrance toran dwar (gateway) with arched gokhas (pillared spaces) and surviving frescoes of elephants and riders highlights the Haveli’s artistic legacy, though much of the original paint has peeled or been whitewashed. The Modi Haveli’s design, shared across Shekhawati Havelis, integrates Jaipur-inspired planning principles, showcasing regional adaptations to topography and material availability. Once a private residence and business hub (gaddi), it now stands as a cultural landmark, partially repurposed as a shopping complex, with three guards maintaining its preservation. The study emphasizes the interplay of fresco themes, spatial arrangements, and socio-cultural factors like gender segregation and merchant identity, positioning the Haveli as

AI-assisted summary, not yet checked. Consult the original PDF before citing.

Conclusion

The study of Modi Haveli reveals the Marwari dwellings' architectural and artistic legacy, blending utility, durability, and aesthetic grandeur. The edificial patterns, characterized by intricate frescoes and spatial hierarchies, reflect adaptations to climate, resources, and socio-religious contexts. Modi Haveli's unique design—featuring 365 windows, dual chowks, and thematic frescoes—showcases the Marwaris' artistic and technical prowess. This research underscores the cultural significance of these structures as living heritage, highlighting their role in preserving regional identity. The interplay of traditional motifs, economic prosperity, and functional design positions Modi Haveli as a testament to Shekhawati's architectural brilliance, offering valuable insights for conservation and cultural preservation efforts.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “Modi Haveli, the private breathing space of the Modi family which dominated the living environment of the Jhunjhunu town, constructed by wealthy Marwari’s, with a common edificial pattern which serves the purpose of utility, durability, protection and attractiveness of this place and the frescoes that adorn the surfaces of innumerable traditional dwellings covering almost every inch of available space.”
  • “Havelis have a common edificial pattern which serves the purpose of utility, durability, protection and attractiveness.”
  • “Fresco art came into bud under the patronage of Marwari merchants as well as the traditional dwellings of various location of Jhunjhunu, there is a similarities in their spatial hierarchy and arrangement, but each presents before us a unique pattern responding most innovatively to the local climate.”

Works cited in this article

  1. Cooper, llay, and May Cooper. Havelis of Rajasthan. New Delki: India Book House, 2004.
  2. Dutt, Tara (Nirvirod). Shekhawati, Jan Jeevan Prakashan, Navab Sahib ki haveli, Tripoliya Bazaar, Jaipur (Rajasthan).
  3. Singh, Harnath. Shekhawati & their Lands, Raj educational printers, 1970.
  4. Singh, K.S. People of India : Rajasthan. New York: Oxford University Press. 2002.
  5. Srivastava, Urvashi. Mesmerizing Shekhawati, Unprotected Heritage: Traveller’s Tales, October 20, 2013.

Discussed in this article

People

  • Basantlal Moorwal
  • Shardul Singh
  • Samas Khan
  • Mohammed Khan
  • Mohanlal Ishwar Das Modi

Places

  • Jhunjhunu
  • Modi Haveli
  • Shekhawati
  • Jaipur 26
  • Nehru Market
  • Modi Mall

Texts & works

  • Havelis of Rajasthan
  • Painted Folklore and Folklore Painters of India

Dynasties, sects & groups

  • Marwari
  • Marwari merchants

AI guide

Discuss this record

Ask about the article, its topics, issue context, selected passages, or reading strategy.

Start with the record

I can unpack the summary, turn it into study questions, explain a selected passage, or compare it with the other articles in this issue.

Article order

In this issue

Vol. 39
1–13Vijñānamātra and Vijñaptimātra: A ReappraisalYan Cao1–16Aesthetic Experience of Visual ArtsG. C. Tripathi14–28The Text‑Study in Folk‑Epics of Western IndiaHasu Yajnik17–19Rajyavardhana : A ProfileSatyavrat Verma20–23Traces of Modern Military Sciences in Prakrit EpicsPulak Goyal24–29Two Less Known Works of BilhanaM. A. Dhaky29–40Traces of Nirgrantha’s Thought in Buddhist TextsJitendra B. Shah30–33The Vedanta Philosophy Anticipating Science of the Modern WorldVijay Pandya34–42The Edificial Pattern of the Marwari’s Dwelling and their Frescoes with special reference to Modi Haveli, JhunjhunuTanuja SinghCurrent article41–53Pacchakkhāṇa Leading to SallekhanāHampa Nagarajaiah43–49प्राकृत की कुछ दुर्लभ पाण्डुलिपियाँPhoolchand Jain Premi50–69शार्दूल पाण्डुलिपियों में श्लोकों की वृद्धि‑ह्रास का विश्लेषणVasantkumar M. Bhatt54–61Excerpts Quoted in the Nāṭyadarpaṇa from the Devīcandragupta: A Critique on Their SignificanceSatyavrat Verma62–70A Grammatical Analysis of the Dvyāśraya‑Mahākāvya’s Śaurasenī ŚlokasMana Apoorva Shah70–75वेद का अवांचीन अध्ययनVijay Pandya71–89प्राकृत काव्य की चारिता के भाविक आधारBalram Shukla76–83जैनधर्म में आध्यात्मिक विकास एवं बौद्ध परम्पराVijaykumar Jain84–98जैन साहित्य में लेश्या‑विमर्शRaka Jain90–97हेमचन्द्राचार्य के प्राकृत व्याकरण में अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम्Vasantkumar M. Bhatt98–112अथ स्वतः परतः प्रमाणं परीक्ष्यतेAmbikadatt Sharma99–102पाँच समितियों का व्यापक अर्थ : श्रावकों की अपेक्षा सेVeersagar Jain103–108अपरिग्रह एवं प्रजातांत्रिक अर्थव्यवस्थाN. K. Khicha109–121देवेंद्रसूरिजीकृत सुबधकथा प्राकृत पाण्डुलिपि में आचार शास्त्रीय विवेचनHemvati Nandan Sharma113–119रत्नपालचरितम् : एक विवेचनHemvati Nandan Sharma120–124महोपाध्याय क्षमाकल्याण जी रचित साहित्यManiguru Charanraj Arya Mehulprabhasagar122–131आदिकाव्य का जीवन‑दर्शनBalram Shukla125–128वेदों में वर्णित राष्ट्रीय भावनाMahendrakumar A. Dave129–131અનુયોગદ્વાર સૂત્રના રચનાકાળ વિશે કાંઈક (Anuyogasar Sutra na Rachnakal vishe Kaik)Sadhvishri Mrigavatishriji M.132–137ન્યાય દર્શન – એક પરિચય (Nyaya Darshan – Ek Parichay)Laxman V. Joshi132–141“उत्तराध्ययन‑सूत्र” की पाण्डुलिपियों में चित्रित रूपाकृतियाँRajendra Prasad138–151મધ્યકાલીન સાહિત્યનો અમૂલ્ય ખજાનો (Madhyakalin Sahityano Amulya Khajano)Abhay Doshi142–148जैन साहित्य का राजस्थानी चित्रकला पर प्रभावRunjhun Rajawat, Tanuja Singh149–155बसोहली शैली में गीतगोविन्द अंकनRitika Garg152–160આચાર્ય જયવંતસૂરિકૃત શૃંગારમંજરી : એક અનન્ય સંપાદન (Acharya Javantsuri Kruta Shungaramanjari : Ek Anany Sampadan)Abhay Doshi161–174હસ્તપ્રતો : ભારતીય ઈતિહાસ અને સંસ્કૃતિનો અમૂલ્ય સ્રોત (Hastraprat: Bharatiya Itihaas ane Sanskriti no Amulya Srot)Bharti Shelat

Original PDF

Inline viewer

Checking source PDF

The viewer will load here if the archive file is reachable.

Same author

More by Tanuja Singh

All articles →
Sambodhi

जैन साहित्य का राजस्थानी चित्रकला पर प्रभाव

By Runjhun Rajawat, Tanuja Singh

2015
Sambodhi

भारतीय मृण्मूर्ति कला के आधार

By Tanuja Singh

2013
Sambodhi

पथ प्रदर्शक - महाराजा सूरजमल

By Tanuja Singh

2009
Sambodhi

Rajasthan ki Lok Chitrakala

By Tanuja Singh

2007