Honorific parasol depicting Guru Nanak and his companions

Historically, honorific parasols such as this one served to mark a place where one of the ten Sikh gurus once preached. The tradition of covering a holy person or being, or a sacred structure, with a type of parasol goes back thousands of years in South Asian religious traditions. This miniature silver parasol (chattri) once hung over a copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book.

The relief decoration shows Guru Nanak with his two companions, Mardana and Bhai Bala. The guru sits in a contemplative posture appropriate to religious practice. Directly behind him is a large flower framed by an oval-shaped border, and the lower register of the parasol is embellished with a meandering floral motif. The parasol is further adorned with dangling chains and silver beads.