- Title
- Vasant Ragini, First Wife of Shri Raga, Folio from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies)
- Date Made
- circa 1700
- Medium
- Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
- Dimensions
- Image: 9 1/2 x 6 5/8 in. (24.13 x 16.83 cm); Sheet: 11 5/8 x 8 3/4 in. (29.53 x 22.23 cm)
- Accession Number
- M.79.191.28
- Collecting Area
- South and Southeast Asian Art
- Curatorial Notes
Inscriptions on the reverse in Arabic and devanagari scripts identify the melody. Vasant Ragini is the first wife of Shri Raga in the variant ragamala (garland of melodies) classification system known as Hanuman’s system (developed by the ancient musical theorist Hanuman), which was often followed in Amber ragamalas. In the more widespread Rajasthani system, Vasant Ragini is the second wife of Dipak Raga. It is a morning melody celebrating the arrival of Spring (March–May).
Here, and in its series mate Hindola Raga (M.72.38), the hero is Krishna as identified by his distinctive peacock feather crown. His complexion is yellowish gray rather than his normal blue to match his visualization as Hindola Raga in accordance with the description by the Hindi poet Paida typically inscribed on Amber Hindola Ragas. (Ebeling, Ragamala Painting, 1973) He is dancing joyously with his consort Radha, who holds a flower vase above her head. A female attendant on the left also holds an upraised flower vase. A female attendant on the right throws red colored powder shown as blotches against the yellow ground, indicating Vasant Ragini’s correlation with the Holi Festival celebrated in the month of Phalguna (February-March). Two female musicians complete the ensemble. A row of flowering mango trees culturally associated with Vasant Ragini fills the ridgeline. See also M.81.280.3.
