Delightfully, the painting marks a subtle departure from the usual form. The usual representation of ‘Rasa’ comprises ‘three concentric circles’ but this ‘pata-chitra’ comes out with just two. The ‘third’ seems to have been magnified into a larger rectangular frame around the inner-most rectangle – the expansion of the central square which contains circles manifesting ‘Rasa’. Instead of ‘three concentric circles’, symbolic of three cosmic zones that the ‘Rasa’ – Krishna’s divine dance involves, the artist has conceived his canvas with three rectangular divisions discovering fresh symbolic dimensions of the theme. In Krishna’s legend he makes love – his modus of uniting with the seeker ‘self’, Radha or a Gopi, in simultaneity to his exploits against evil, the obvious idea being that unless weeds are removed, twigs will not bloom with flowers and fragrance. Hence, in this visualization of the theme the artist has incorporated in six oval horizontal panels, three on either side, some of Krishna’s exploits against evil before he is represented uniting with Gopis – seeker selves. In usual representation of Rasa this union of the Supreme Self with the seeker self is the theme of the outer-most of the three concentric circles. In this visualization of the theme this outer-most circle seems to have been magnified into a larger rectangular ring as it has been conceived with the same theme as the outermost concentric circle.
Thus, the painting has been conceived with a square in the centre comprising ‘Rasa’ theme, though with just two circles, the inner, representing Krishna dancing with two Gopis, and the outer, comprising twelve conical windows, six with icons of Krishna and other six, with Gopi-figures, the two sets alternating mutually. With extended right and left arms housing three oval panels on either side the central square transforms into a rectangle duly defined by a frame. Of the three rectangles this is the inner-most. The three panels on the right portray Krishna subduing the venomous viper Kaliya with its wives praying for mercy; Krishna dancing for delighting Gopis, two each on his either side; and, Krishna removing the deformity of Kubja – the hunch-backed woman. The panel on the left represent, Krishna chastising Rajakabadha, the washer man of Kansa; Krishna killing Kuvalyapida, the elephant demon; and, Krishna and Balarama killing the wrestlers of Kansa, Chanura and Mustaka.
The rectangle in the middle comprises primarily the twenty-eight octagonal windows – the magnification of the outer circle manifesting Rasa. This ring of twenty-eight windows represents repeat icons of Krishna, each dancing with a Gopi-figure. As in case of the inner rectangle, the right and left arms of the middle rectangle, too, are extended to house ten arched windows, five on either side, enshrining Vishnu’s ten incarnations, in the usual sequence : Matsyavatara – Fish incarnation; Kurma – Tortoise incarnation; Varaha – Boar incarnation; Narsimha – Half-man-half-lion incarnation; Vamana –Dwarf incarnation; Parasurama; Rama; Balarama; Veda-Vyasa; and the horse-riding Kalki. It is in strict pursuance to Oriya tradition which perceives Krishna to be the Jagannatha – the Supreme Lord of the world, not an incarnation of Vishnu. Hence, he does not appear in Vishnu’s incarnations. This regional tradition does not include Buddha as Vishnu’s ninth incarnation. Instead, it reveres Veda-Vyasa as Vishnu’s ninth incarnation.
The outer-most rectangle consists of thirty-four circular windows. The episodes/exploits/theme that these windows illustrate are (in the twelve windows of the top row) : (1) Vishnu reclining on the coils of Great Serpent Shesh while Lakshmi, is consort, massaging his feet; (2) Devaki and Vasudeva in bridal costumes; (3) Vasudeva and Devaki in prison with folded hands suggestively paying homage to Vishnu, though he is not visible; (4) Vasudeva with folded hands paying homage to newborn Krishna lying beside Devaki; (5) Vasudeva transporting newborn Krishna; (6) Vasudeva crossing river Yamuna with Krishna on his head. The Great Serpent Shesh unfurls his hood for protecting Krishna from rain; (7) Vasudeva at Gokul at Nanda’s house where he lays Krishna with Yashoda and comes back with her daughter; (8) Kansa killing Yogamaya, born to Yashoda as her daughter, under the impression that she is Devaki’s eighth child; (9) Krishna killing Purana, the female demon sent by Kansa to kill him; (10) Tranavarta, the cyclone demon, snatching away Krishna from the hands of the Gopi who was looking after him; (11) roped with a stone crusher Krishna drags it across two trees which uproot and fall. The trees were two Yakshas, Nalakubara and Manigriva cursed to turned into trees but get redeemed as soon as the trees fall. Paying homage to Krishna for redeeming them: (12) Krishna paying homage to great sage Narada.
Those in the bottom row from right to left are : (1) Krishna coaxing Radha by massaging her feet; (2) Krishna taking Radha on boating expedition; (3) Krishna steals garments of Gopis polluting the river water by bathing nude in it; (4) a Shiva-linga enshrined under a canopy and a devotee worshipping; (5) Krishna killing Keshi, the horse demon; (6) Krishna killing Aghasura, the python demon; (7) Krishna eliminating Shakatasura, the cart demon; (8) Krishna with two Gopis under a tree in the posture of dance; (9) Krishna killing Vatsasura, also named Pralamba, the bull demon; (10) Krishna as Vishnu granting ‘abhaya’ to a devotee doing penance; (11) Krishna killing Vakasura, crane demon; and (12) an unusual episode portraying skull-headed horrible figure looking like Krishna frightening a person.
The ten panels, five on the right and other five on the left, portray respectively from bottom to top : (1) Krishna pulls down Kansa from the throne and kills him; (2) Vishnu appearing in the vision of Akrura when he is bathing in river Yamuna; (3) Krishna, Balarama and one of their Sakhas listening to someone’s payer; (4) Krishna with a ‘kamandala’ and arm-rest in hands on the door of a household, obviously as Yogi; and, (5) Krishna as Vishnu blessing a female devotee. (On the left, from bottom to top) : (1) Krishna seated on the ground while a female and male costumed like a Yogi stand close-by; (2) Krishna and his Sakhas stealing butter from a pot hung on a hanger suspending from the ceiling; (3) Filled with guilt Krishna and Balarama face Yashoda holding a cane to punish them; (4) Krishna and Balarama, Krishna holing something like a magic band, and Balarama, a trumpet type musical instrument; and, (5) Krishna sporting with Radha circumambulating a Kadamba tree.
This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.
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