Fantastic Beasts – Second Edition

For our 40th issue of Spotlight, we’re revisiting a theme we first explored back in 2019: the magnificent beasts who have charmed us with their form and spirit over the ages. India is the birthplace of many faiths that embrace animism. The belief that animals, plants and everything else in nature are manifestations of the divine is shared by tribal communities as well as by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. Whether it’s the regal tiger or the humble buffalo or the deadly snake, each species carries a specific cultural connotation, each has a role to play. And then there are the fantastic beasts, hybrid creatures of the imagination that are greater than the sum of their parts. Get to know them through the coins, rare books and Indian art in our collection.