- Title
- The Month of Bhadon (August-September) (recto), The Month of Sawan (July-August) (verso), Folio from a Barahmasa (The Twelve Months)
- Date Made
- circa 1800
- Medium
- Ink and opaque watercolor on paper
- Dimensions
- Sheet: 10 7/8 x 7 1/2 in. (27.62 x 19.05 cm); Image: 10 3/8 x 7 in. (26.35 x 17.78 cm)
- Accession Number
- M.70.19
- Collecting Area
- South and Southeast Asian Art
- Curatorial Notes
The Barahmasa (The Twelve Months) is a collection of poems adapted from India’s vast oral traditions that describe the lunar months of the year and their correlating emotional states and social activities. The most popular text for painters to illustrate was Chapter 10 of the Kavipriya (Poet’s Delight) composed in 1601 in Braj-Bhasa by the poet Keshavdas (1555–1617) of the Orchha court.
Recto: Bhadon (August-September)
The dark clouds have gathered all around and are thundering loudly. The rain is pouring in torrents. The cicadas are chirping continuously and strong wind is blowing fiercely. Tigers and lions are roaring and herds of elephants are breaking trees. There is no longer any difference between day and night (because of the constantly clouded in the sky). One’s own home is like nectar and outside is like poison. The poet is of the opinion that one should not leave his home during this month.
Verso: Shravana (or Sawan; July-August)
Poet Keshav(das) says that during this month of (Shravana), the rivers (being in spate due to rains) meet sea making a pleasant scene. The creepers (freshened by rains) have clung to trees. The lightning meets the clouds and shine all around. The peacocks (listening to the thundering of lightning and knowing the rains around) make happy sounds announcing the meeting of earth and sky. Thus, all the lovers are meeting their beloveds. In Shravana, what to say of going out one should not even listen to the talk of going out.
(Translations by V. P. Dwivedi.)
