Page 138 - Eye of the beholder

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her her to meet Krishna even if the hour is is inauspicious In front of her her are rendered certain elements which provides clue to her love condition as the delineation of flowers paan and a a a a a a vessel containing sandalwood paste carrying symbolic meaning Radha is is admonishing her sakhi to keep away from her her the the flowers as they are like thorns without her her Hari don’t rub sandalwood paste as as as as its coolness turns to fever and and no paan either as as as as it it it tastes like poison This despite the fact that it it was her decision not to meet Krishna at at an inauspicious hour while Krishna seated in in another pavilion is is eager to meet her her as indicated by the the gestures of of her Sakhis and Krishna in fin a a a a a a a a a dilemma of of Radha’s refusal Similar symbolic elements finds placement with with Krishna too with with garland of flowers sandalwood paste and and and and the paan Garland nevertheless translated to a a a a a snake in her absence Aesthetically the the compositional structure of painting is designed to contain two pavilions where where the hero hero and heroine are placed The pavilion where where Radha is shown seated on on a a a a a a a a thick white mattress placed directly on the floor which incidentally is painted grey with red floral motif contained in in in in yellow outlined cartouche is a a a a a one storied structure and opens out out into a a a a a garden that is divided into four sections The ground floor has a a a a a room the entrance of which is is is marked by by a a a a a a a a rolled up curtain This room is is is fronted by by a a a a a a a a verandah with pillars which carried a a a a a a a a a chajja and a a a a a a a a a parapet above This ground floor portion has been interestingly rendered with interesting details The The exterior wall of the the room has a a a a a niche flanking it it on either side The The niche on on the right has decorative containers and and an an an an elegant flask rendered in in white and and yellow respectively The upper portion of the the niche has projections on on on the the right and left that appear in in the shape of bird heads Over this is is placed a a a a rod which ends in in white knobs The projection on on the the right has a a a yellow odhini hung from it it The niche on on the the left is similarly designed but it it contains two two elegant and elongated white flasks From the rod hang two two diaphanous materials in white and and yellow The pillars of of the verandah are made of of marble with a a a a a a a a a a decorative base and a a a a a a a capital that is is precisely outlined with a a a a a a a floral motif in in grey The upper section of the chajja is painted yellow ochre The upper storey is is an an open terrace the entrance to to it is is provided by a a a a a a large doorway which carries an elaborate multi cusped arch above which which is is a a a a a a a a a a semi circular chajja over which which is is a a a a a a a a parapet following the the the outlines of of the the the chajja below and is crowned by a a a a a a a a dome the the the finial of of which protrudes into the the the the band that carries the the the the written script On either side of the the the the dome are two circular forms as as well as as a a a a a a a a a tiger’s head These appear to be the the insignia of the the ruling Rajput dynasty The semi circular chajja has resonance to the marble pavilion in Agra Fort constructed by Shah Jahan with its influence derived from Bengal This doorway is is flanked on on either side side by by two heavily grilled windows This terrace is is surrounded on on three sides by by a a a marble parapet which carries floral motifs outlined in in in grey while the fourth side overlooking the the open courtyard below has no such protection The parapet wall carried above the the chajja and and and which is at at a a a a a a a a a level of of the the floor of of the the terrace and and and painted bright red carries delicate and and and ornamental merlons forms developed as as a a a a a a trefoil that has been rendered in in grey outlines The pavilion next to to where Radha is is seated is is again a a a a a a a one storied structure In the upper section on on on an open terrace made of marble Krishna is is is is seated with two gopis The pavilion is is is is carried on pillars pillars with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a chajja chajja and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a parapet The pillars pillars are painted green the chajja chajja in in yellow and the wall behind in in bright red