Kangra Painting from the Gita Govinda series
Early 18th century AD.
In Kangra School different artists illustrated different texts: Gita Govind, Bhagwat Puran, Bihari's Satsai, Nala Dayamanti story, Ramayan, Hamir Hat etc.
Jayadev, the court poet of Sena king Lakshmansena ( 1185-1206) wrote the Gita Govinda. Instantly it became a great hit with the people. It is one of the finest poem written about the love of Radha and Krishna. It is a popular piece of the Bhakti movement in medieval India. It is sung in temples, especially in Puri. It has inspired poets, writers, painters, and dancers. It forms the central theme in Odissi dance.
Though the story is about Radha and Krishna, but it is symbolic of the relationship between God and the yearning soul. It is said that Lord Krishna helped Jaydev write the poem.
The Gita Govinda series contains some of the finest paintings of thr Kangra School. They are full of lyricism, full of lush landscapes, full of love. Kangra school is, infact, famous for its depiction of love.
Radha waits for Krishna in a grove. A sakhi (friend) approaches her with a message from Krishna. Both hear Krishna's flute and look in that direction. Randha wonders if Krishna would come to her. The painter gives the answer: all the birds sit in pairs except one on the extreme left. A single bird sits on a branch waiting for its mate. A bird darts across between the two trees on the left. Krishna will come.
There is some debate as to who has painted this series. While some claim that Manaku, Nainsukh's brother, has painted it, others question this assertion. But whosoever is the painter, he has left a series of masterpieces for us to enjoy and cherish.
Jayadev, the court poet of Sena king Lakshmansena ( 1185-1206) wrote the Gita Govinda. Instantly it became a great hit with the people. It is one of the finest poem written about the love of Radha and Krishna. It is a popular piece of the Bhakti movement in medieval India. It is sung in temples, especially in Puri. It has inspired poets, writers, painters, and dancers. It forms the central theme in Odissi dance.
Though the story is about Radha and Krishna, but it is symbolic of the relationship between God and the yearning soul. It is said that Lord Krishna helped Jaydev write the poem.
The Gita Govinda series contains some of the finest paintings of thr Kangra School. They are full of lyricism, full of lush landscapes, full of love. Kangra school is, infact, famous for its depiction of love.
Radha waits for Krishna in a grove. A sakhi (friend) approaches her with a message from Krishna. Both hear Krishna's flute and look in that direction. Randha wonders if Krishna would come to her. The painter gives the answer: all the birds sit in pairs except one on the extreme left. A single bird sits on a branch waiting for its mate. A bird darts across between the two trees on the left. Krishna will come.
There is some debate as to who has painted this series. While some claim that Manaku, Nainsukh's brother, has painted it, others question this assertion. But whosoever is the painter, he has left a series of masterpieces for us to enjoy and cherish.
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