In Search of Her Lover

In Search of Her Lover

 by Fattu. From the Bihari Sat Sai series.
 Kangra School. Late 18th century AD.

        Trying to avoid the constant gaze of the people, lovers prefer to meet at night. Bihari says: Thougg clad in blue, the dark night cannot hide her as she goes to meet her lover.The flame-like brilliance of her body illumines the night itself.

        She is the 'Abhisarika' Nayika, brave, courageous,  driven by passion who undertakes the treacherous path in order to rendezvous with her lover at night. With muted dark colors of the buildings, with starry night, Fattu depicts the stillness of the night. The Sakhi (friend) leads the Nayika to her destination.

         Life is like the dark night; the path of devotion is a treacherous one. One needs a friend, philosopher and guide, a guru, to be led to enlightenment. The soul is self-luminous, but incomplete till it unites with the creator. The path is long, but not unending.