Valmiki Ramayana in Malwa Painting (An Old and Rare Book)

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

Malwa paintings, because of their specific style and different themes, have been the centre of attraction for both oriental as well as occidental Art-Historians. The studies made so far are neither based on the examination of their complete sets nor throw any light on their literary backgrounds and geopolitical locales that might have deeply influenced the Malwa artists.

This book covers all these gaps and critically attempts to trace the historical and literary backgrounds of Malwa Ramayana paintings made around seventeenth century A.D.

Special feature of the book is a cross- comparison of the paintings with literary descriptions given in different Ramayanas viz. Valmiki Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana, Krithivasi Ramayana (Bengali), Ananda Ramayana, Adbhuta Ramayana, Adhyatma Ramayana, Ramacharitamanas, etc., which reveals that the Malwa Ramayana paintings emerged exclusively from the Valmiki Ramayana.

The book succeeds in presenting the panorama of important episodes of Rama's life story through these paintings. Besides being an illustrative version of the Valmiki Ramayana, it also presents sufficient research material to art-historians and modern painters alike.

Dr. Bhanu Agrawal, a product of the Banaras Hindu University and now a Senior Lecturer at the Department of History of Arts, Faculty of Visual Arts, is a well known name in the field of Art History. She is a scholar as well as an artist. Her area of specialization includes Painting, Sculpture, Textile, Numismatics and Aesthetics. She has to her credit two books viz. Bharatiya Chitra Kala ke Mula Strota (1991) and Indian Punch Marked Coins (1994) and a few dozen research papers in the reputed National and International Art Journals. Her other books in pipe-line are- Third Eye: Myth or A Scientific Reality?, World Textiles, Symbols in Art etc.

This book is about the literary background and technique of Ramayana paintings that were made during seventeenth century A. D. by the artists of Malwa School. The book is mainly based upon the miniature paintings of the series, which are in the possession of the Bharat Kala Bhavan, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Some miniatures of the series still being untraceable could however be not used in this study. Nevertheless, the available set of the painting succeeds in presenting the panorama of important episodes of Rama's life-story without leaving much vacuum for readers both specialist and layman alike.

Malwa paintings, because of their specific style and different themes, viz. Ramayana (Rama Lila), Bhagavata Purana (Krishna Lila), Ragamala, etc. have been the centre of attraction for both oriental as well as occidental art-historians. A few aspects of these were studied in some detail, but many are yet to be dealt with. Among these, mention may be made of their literary background and geopolitical locale, which might have deeply influenced the artists in creating these paintings. In view of the significance of these factors, they have been considered in dealing with the Malwa paintings made on the Ramayana. A cross-comparison of the miniatures with the literary descriptions given in different Ramayanas, viz. Valmiki Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana, Krittivasi Ramayana (Bengali), Ananda Ramayana, Tulasikrita Ramcharitmanas, etc. revealed that the present Ramayana series of the Malwa paintings are exclusively based on the Valmiki Ramayana, but with a few diversions due to geopolitical influence over the artists. In presenting the descriptive concordance of these paintings with Valmiki Ramayana, all such minor deviations have also been duely appreciated. Besides, the book also devotes a full chapter on the technique of these paintings. The present book, besides being an illustrative version of the Valmiki Ramayana also presents sufficient research material to art-historians and modern painters alike.

Geographical and Historical Background of Malwa Ramayana Paintings

History reveals that since time immemorial Malwa has been one of the important states of central India. It was ruled by several dynasties, and was famous for its natural beauty, prosperity, and cultural activities. However, like other contemporary states, its geographical boundary was never stable, but kept on changing continually owing to change-over of dynasties and sovereigns, political activities interstate warfares and invasions. As the artistic creation of any artist is much more influenced by his surroundings, prosperity, and political milieu, where he grows and creates, it is, therefore, indispensable to acquaint the readers about the historical and geographical backgrounds of Malwa, where the Ramayna paintings were created.

Malava and Malwa in Literature

There is mention of Malwa and Malavatribe in Padataditakam', a Sanskrit text of 5th century A.D., authored by Syamilaka. It is said there that Malava was the name of a tribe, which was the original inhabitant of Malwa state. Some scholars hold it as a fact, while others disapprove it, and suggest that Malavika, an actress of Malavikagnimitra, a Sanskrit text, authored by Kalidas, was also not a de facto inhabitant of Malwa state. But her name alludes to her Malava clan or tribe. The Allahabad inscription of Samudragupta (4th century A.D.), on the contrary, mentions about Malava tribe, which was then inhabiting in eastern Rajaputana (modern Mewar, Tonka and Kota,).