This painting is a page from a Ragamala album. The Sanskrit word “ragamala” literally means a garland of musical modes. Each mode or raga expresses an emotional situation or mood and is personified either as a male (raga) or female (ragini). Bhairavi, one of Shiva’s wives, is depicted in this painting worshiping a shivalingam and playing the cymbals. The poem at the top of the page describes her as a beautiful woman with a fair complexion.
Details
- Title : Ragamala Album: Bhairavi Ragini
- Year : c. 1625
- Classification : Painting
- Medium : Opaque watercolor and gold on paper
- Dimension : 7 x 5-1/2 in. (17.8 x 14.0 cm)
- Accession No : M.1979.92.02.P
- Country/ Geo-location : Nepal
- Collection : Norton Simon Museum
- Credit Line : Norton Simon Art Foundation, Gift of Mr. Norton Simon
- Status : Currently not on view