by Ranjha. From the Nala Damayanti series
Kangra School. Late 18th century AD
Having come back from the temple, Damayanti casually throws a garland towards the maid standing at the door of her inner apartment. But it lands on the neck of the invisible Nala. ( If you enlarge the image, you can see a transparent figure of a man--that is Nala standing near the door). There is shock and dismay as the garland hangs in the air. While in the palace, Nala has been to some mischief: he has painted Damayanti's portrait on the wall in the lower chamber. Three maids are admiring the exquisite portrait. Moreover, maids in the upper floor are amazed as they can see the reflection of a man in the mirrors on the wall; but what is a man doing in the ladies' palace, they wonder. Who is this handsome man ? A figment of their imagination or a spirit?
Ranjha depicts the suspense, the humorous situation, the poignancy of the moment in all its details.
What is reality? That is the issue. Is it what is visible or what is invisible? What is invisible also becomes visible at certain moments. We garland even an invisible force whom we cannot see but whose presense we can feel. Love, like God, can be felt, can be experienced, but cannot be seen.
Ranjha depicts the suspense, the humorous situation, the poignancy of the moment in all its details.
What is reality? That is the issue. Is it what is visible or what is invisible? What is invisible also becomes visible at certain moments. We garland even an invisible force whom we cannot see but whose presense we can feel. Love, like God, can be felt, can be experienced, but cannot be seen.
I am very interested in these images of the Nala-Damayanthi story. Are they published in a book?
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