Sunday 16 March 2014

Poet Bihari Offers Homage to Radha and Karishna

Poet Bihari Offers Homage to Radha and Karishna 

By Nainsukh, Guler School
1760-65 AD.

        The poet Bihari is connected to Jaipur as he waa patronised by the Maharaja of Jaipur. It is said that the Maharaja had married a young girl. After the marriage, the Maharaja started ignoring the administrative works. Alarmed by his neglect,  the courtiers asked Bihari to subtly hint to the Maharaja that he should pay more attention to his Kingdom than to the young Rani. BIhari wrote, " if the 'bhawara' (a bee) is so enchanted by a bud, what would happen when it blossoms into a flower?" The maharaja was jostled out of his slumber.  He inquired about whi the poet was. He commissioned Bihari to write couplets (dohas) on the theme of love between Radha and Krishna.
         This painting depicts the poet paying homage to Radha and Krishna. In the line written at the top, the poet prays to Radha and says " Take away the pain of existence,  this cycle of the world, from me, Radha, you, whose (golden) reflection turns Krishna's (blue complexion) into a glowing green (makes him come to life)."
       The pun is that blue and yellow when combined make green--the symbol of life.
       Nainsukh, with his precision and subtleties,  has poignant caught the moment of homage. The poet stands as though praying to Radha. His bag under his arm may contain paper on which he is about to write his couplets. Krishna sits regally,  holding a large lotus: a symbol of his generosity.  Radha sits as a Rani, in all her jewelry and splendour.  Two maids stand behind the divine couple.  One maid has just turned to whisper something to the other. Like the previous painting there is a sense of awe and intimacy, sense of order and precision,  sense of color and solemnity.  This is one of the best works typifing the Bhakti movement one of whose exponent was poet Bihari.

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