Picture Details
Ragamala painting: Gauri ragini
Partner:
British LibraryImage reference:
BL.J.37.25Origin:
Deccan, IndiaArtist / Date:
Unknown, c.1760Description:
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Ragas are Indian melodic modes which create certain moods. They have been classified into a variety of tonal structures and conceptualised in literature and poetry. Thus there are six `male' ragas each with `wives' or raginis, and frequently `sons' or ragaputras and `daughters-in-law.' Each raga defines certain sentiments or rasas and they are performed during certain seasons or times of day. Ragamalas (garlands of melodies) are cycles of paintings accompanied with poetry which illustrates the musical modes. Here Gauri ragini, a wife of raga Malkauns, is depicted as a beautiful woman holding flower sprays in a garden with marbled pools. In front of her are banana trees, behind her are slender ashoka trees and the terrace on which she stands is framed with a profusion of marigold, poppy, roses, irises and other flowering plants. Gauri symbolises a woman separated from her beloved; she traditionally holds branches of the Kalpavriksha or wish-fulfilling tree. It is painted in the north Indian Hyderabadi style.
