"RAGA MALKAUS - A RAGAMALA PAINTING" inspired by the Rajasthani/Mughal style of painting. This is a watercolour painting done by me on 300 gsm/140 lbs., Arches Imperial size Hot pressed watercolour paper.

RAGAMALA PAINTING

Ragamala means a garland of melody. This is a set of illustrative paintings, depicting variations of the Indian musical modes called ragas. They stand as a classical example of the amalgamation of art, poetry, and classical music in medieval India.

Ragamala paintings date back to the 16th and 17th centuries and form part of the Rajasthani or Moghul style of paintings also known as Pahari, Rajasthani or Rajput, Deccan or Mughal style.

In these paintings, each raga is personified by colour, mood, and a verse describing a story of a hero and heroine (nayaka and nayika), it also elucidates the season and the time of day and night in which a particular raga is to be sung attached with the raga.

The paintings depict not just the Ragas, but also their wives, (raginis), their numerous sons (ragaputra), and daughters (ragaputri).

The six principal ragas present in the Ragamala are Bhairava, Dipika, Sri, Malkaunsa, Megha, and Hindola and these are meant to be sung during the six seasons of the year summer, monsoon, autumn, early winter, winter, and spring.

These paintings were created as loose-leaf folios, typically thirty-six or forty-two in number, which were stored in a portfolio, Ragamala circulated within the inner court circles that commissioned them. Viewing these paintings was a pleasurable pastime for courtiers, their guests, and the ladies of the zenana. These Ragamalas were also painted as murals in the private quarters of palaces.

The Raga Malkaus is believed to have been created by goddess Parvati to calm Lord Shiva when he was outraged and refused to calm down after Tandav in the rage of Sati's sacrifice. 

In Jainism, it is also stated that the Raga Malkaus is used by the Tirthankaras with the Ardham?gadhi language when they are giving Deshna (Lectures) in the Samavasarana (Refuge to all).

Malkaus belongs to Shaivait musical school; in fact, most pentatonic ragas belong to Shaivait musical school.

Malkaus is a serious, meditative raga, and is developed mostly in the lower octave and in a slow tempo.

The best time for this raga is late at night. The effect of the raga is soothing and intoxicating.

Please read our blog on Ragamala painting HERE.

More paintings in Rajasthani style are available from this website.

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