Kangra Paintings of Rādha and Kṛṣṇa Watching a Storm
Rādha and Kṛṣṇa relax in each other’s arms, reclining on a canopied bed placed on the palace balcony so they can enjoy the drama of the monsoon night together. Having performed her final duties, the maid retreats in a bow to leave the couple to themselves. The streaks of golden lightning set against the deep black clouds invokes the electricity between the divine and his mortal love. In the distance, gopas (herdsmen) drive their cattle to the shelter of small huts, and white egrets flee – indicating the severity of the storm – in a meandering line that follows the contours of the green hills. The nāyika is reunited with her hero, and she embraces him with tender affection.
This painting reflects the ideals of ‘love in union’ known as saṃyoga. As noted by M.S. Randhawa in Kangra Paintings on Love, Bombay, 1962, Kangra paintings illustrating love in union during the rains are numerous. The onset of the monsoon with dark rolling clouds, the play of lightning, the flight of egrets and saras cranes against slate blue clouds, and the shouting of peacocks have a strange fascination for the Indian mind. The Hindi poets have sung of the joy of rains, and the Kangra artists have given expression to that joy in their paintings. Kangra depictions showing the joy of rains are tender, soft, warm in tone and atmosphere. Here are forms which are poems, and colours that are melodies. The sinuous flashes of lightning in the dark clouds, the white cranes and music create a mood of joy which we can sense in the faces of the lovers. Cattle grazing on the village common, villagers crossing the river on inflated skins, water-mills in a corner, and hamlets concealed among bamboos, mangoes and plantains remind us of the lower hills of the Kangra Valley. Mystical affinity between the life of Nature and the life of man, between the beauty of love, and the beauty of clouds and flying birds finds eloquent expression.
The second painting represents the same theme, viz. Rādha and Kṛṣṇa sheltering from rain under a dark blanket. Here the sudden onset of rain has provided a pretext to the lovers for being together.
References:
Randhawa, Mahinder Singh. Kangra Paintings on Love. India: National Gallery, 1962.
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