Page 150 - Eye of the beholder

month The nayak and and nayika resonate with graceful sensuality colour and and the the music of their love their urges and and pains shared by the the the animals trees birds and and the the the blossoms 'Baramasa' remains a a a a a romantic poetic genre of of unique concept and expression which describes each of of the the months in terms of love and its rhetoric It undeniably is a a a poetry which reflects the the moods of of the the the lovers but none is as as evocative as as the the the splendour and awe inspiring beauty of of the the the Indian monsoon monsoon and and remains uniquely Indian Indian To an an an an an Indian Indian monsoons are a a a a a a a a symbol of hope and and life The bond that India has with rains is enticingly romantic when in in in the the villages the the nubile maidens will take to swings and and sing songs as they swing swing and and enjoy the the rains The essential theme of of Baramasa is the the the passionate yearning of of a a a a a a a a a a a lovelorn heart the the the pangs of of separation that each change of of season brings brings in in in Each month brings brings a a a a a a a a a a special message to the the beloved every season a a a a a special reminder of of the the joy of of love love and longing The nature participates in in the the the world of human emotions and mirrors the the the lovers or or or the the the singer’s experience of of tenderness and and pain pain of of love The Baramasa depiction in in in in in poetry painting and and music brings in in in together two confronting worlds the the world world of man and nature into one thread Composed in in Hindi and other regional languages these lyric are sung mostly by women The Baramasa of Keshav Das is the most well known and was composed in 1591 for Raja Indrajeet of of Orcha The poet had remarked “During the the month of of Sravana the the rivers meet the the sea which makes it a a a a a a a pleasant scene Creepers fresh after the the rain cling to trees There are lightening streaks in in the the sky and peacocks cry out happily All lovers meet their beloveds in in in the month month of of Sravana In this month month one should not even think of of venturing outdoors Dark clouds have gathered and and are loudly thundering rain pours down in in in torrents Lions and and tigers are are roaming and and elephants are are breaking trees There is no difference between night and and day One’s home is is is like like nectar and the outside is is is like like a a a poison” “Radha and and Krishna celebrating Teej” belongs to the provenance of Jaipur and and dated 1850 is is the representation of rainy season This miniature is is extraordinarily beautiful in in in in its mounted frame as as well as as the intricate floral border border surrounding it it The border border is delineated with different different types and and and varieties of flowers and and and in in in different different hues and and and shades making it charmingly elegant and extraordinary In the the centre in in in in a a a a a a a cartouche on top of the the border is a a a a a a a script indexing towards the the thematic content written in in red and black ink The The painting has the the representation of the the main protagonists Radha and Krishna The The latter is is is seated on the swing with with Radha Radha in in in in in his lap in in in in in a a a a a a a a a a very intimate pos with with Radha Radha looking romantically towards him but but Krishna is is is is is is distracted as his his gaze is is is is is is not on on her but but perhaps on on the Sakhis who are nearby Sakhis surround her but she remains oblivious of their presence In the the background is the the representation of of the the city of of Vrindavan perhaps an an an open landscape through which a a a a a a small stream flows by and a a a a a a huge tree in in the left foreground with blossoming floral bushes and another small rivulet flowing close by The tree serves as a a a a a boundless support to which which is is is tied the swig on on which which Radha and Krishna are lost in blissful oblivion Two groups of Sakhis are represented one in in in in front of the the the the swing and the the the the other coming in in in in from the the the the left The latter are musicians carrying various musical instruments like the the drum the the ektara or perhaps it it it is is a a a a a a a a a sitar and and another has the the clappers in her her hands The sky is is laden with heavy thunderous grey clouds that may open up any time 144