Krishna & Radha On Valentine's Day

Illustration to a Rasikapriya series:
Krishna and Radha at a Jarokha window
attributed to Purkha, circa 1820
Opaque watercolor heightened with gold on paper
Folio (including the border): 12 7/8 x 9 1/4 in. (32.8 x 23.5 cm.)
Image: 10 3/8 x 6 3/4 in. (26.4 x 17.3 cm.)

Provenance:
Mandi Royal Collection.
Private English Collection.

The present scenes depicts Krishna and Radha seated in a Jharoka window. Two sakhis converse in the fenced terrace below, overlooking a lush flower garden and decorative fountain. Adorned in a peacock feather crown, Krishna lovingly gazes at Radhas's beautiful visage, yet she will not meet his eyes. Instead she stares at the small scratches scattered across her lover's chest, and pinches her dupatta in her left hand, pulling it as if to shield herself. The folio number '193' is inscribed in the upper left corner and the reverse with '12ll.'

A line of black Braj Bhasa above refers to Radhika's secret state of heavy separation; the manifestation of pride, or jealousy, induced by seeing or hearing evidence of another woman. Guru mana is the strongest mana, and reflects the fullness of one's love, ultimately enhancing it's sublimity.

The verso is inscribed with a verse from the Rasikapriya in alternating red and black script:

"Forgetting his quarrel with Radha,
Krishna met her and revelled
in the enchantment of her beauty, love and laughter.
On seeing nail-marks on his person beneath his garment,
she turned her gaze away,
and her eyes drooped like a lotus flower at the sight of the moon."

(translation from M.S. Randhawa, Kangra Paintings on Love, New Delhi, 1962, p.89)

The present illustration captures Radha's reaction to the scratches of another woman. While she is filled with longing and jealousy when confronted with Krishna's countless love affairs, their pure and eternal love always persists.