Painting: A Glimpse Of Purkhu's Rasikapriya

Illustration to a Rasikapriya series: Vihit Hava
By Purkhu for Raja Sansar Chand, circa 1830-1840
Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper

This painting by Purkhu, illustrates one of the accounts from the poet Keshavdas' compendium of courtly love scenes, the Rasikapriya. Taking on from the poetry, the painting style of Purkhu underscores the emotions that lovers (nayak and nayika) experience. The nayak being delineated as Krishna and nayika as Radha, reflects the deep religious contours of Vaishnavism (as a religion of love) that these paintings convey.

The Raskiapriya series of paintings symbolize enlightenment as the love of Radha and Krishna likened to the union of the soul to God. The adoration of physical beauty is alchemized into the divine inkling by the impeccable blend of Purkhu's painting and Keshavdas' poetry. This particular painting depicts Vihit Hava, which is a poetic expression used to express the emotional bashfulness and agony that lovers face on not being able to be with their counterparts. In the present scene, the nayika (Radha) can be seen longing for the nayak (Krishna) but was unable to act upon her desire due to her coy demeanor. The nayika along with her sakhis (female friends) can be seen worshiping a tree, on the bank of river Yamuna.

The eminent scholar Dr. Harsha Dehejia has described the prelude to this scene where he explains the nayika's gait to the river bank as intoxicating and captivating. The wind blows her odhani (stole) away and her face looks even more beautiful when unveiled. On reaching the bank her longing to see Krishna is tangible, although she was unable to do so because of her bashfulness. So, even though she was worshiping the tree by circumambulating it, her mind was still dwelling on Krishna in its entirety.

Rasikapriya paintings seamlessly blend the world of poetry and art through evocations of divine love. The genius blending of poetry, art, and religion in Rasikapriya paintings is punctuated by Purkhu's impeccable sense of color and proficiency in rendering crowds and animated scenes.

With Special Thanks to Dr. Harsha Dehejia for providing his valuable insights about the painting and subject matter and translation.