Ragaputra Chandra

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This excellent miniature represents visual transform or manifestation of Ragaputra Chandra – Moon, also named Chndrakaya – appearance or body of the moon, the fifth son of Raga Malkaus, one of the six principal Ragas in Indian tradition of the classical music – vocal or instrumental. Identical to Chandrakaya is the Ragaputra Chandrabimba – the Moon’s reflection, the second son of the Raga Hindola. The term Ragaputra is a combination of two terms, Raga and ‘putra’, one meaning a mode of singing or performing on an instrument pursuing standards or discipline as set under norms of classical Indian music, and other meaning a son or offspring. Thus, a ragaputra is the son, offspring, or an offshoot of a Raga, obviously, the one sharing with the main Raga its body – main features, and spirit – its power to inspire a certain set of emotions.

Like its father Malkaus, a melody of unfathomable depths, relating to riches, prosperity, royal grandeur and youthful love, Chandra or Chandrakaya is a musical mode that sings of love manifesting in enjoyment as its dominant spirit and celebrates it. Like Malkaus, its father as also its prime source, sung after midnight, Chandra is dedicated to the moon and is sung when the moon has its translucent glow spread all over. Like Malkaus Ragaputra Chandra is perceived in the tradition of art as manifesting visually in the form of a youthful prince endowed with divine beauty and lustre, clad in rich costume, a part of its ensemble being essentially yellow – the colour of its father Malkaus’ ensemble, and bejewelled with lustrous ornaments. It has been perceived as riding a chariot that a pair of stags draws across a land strewn all over with beautiful flowers, hills and a lake – the nature in its most brilliant facet.

The Ragaputra Chandra shares the basic spirit of the moon too, at least its luminosity, intoxicating influence and its mystique. The moon has been a timeless metaphor for beauty and an in exhaustible source of aesthetic delight to poets, painters and all. Obviously the Ragaputra Chandra has its share of these features, especially of the moon’s mystique and luminosity. It is a mode that sends around a wave of tranquility and lulls the listener with its soothing touch. The tradition has invariably compared the body and the body-colour of Ragaputra Chandra with the colour and fragrance of Jasmine flowers for its soft gentle notes have the same delicate touch as has a jasmine flower, besides that like jasmine flower that blooms only in the night in the light of moon Ragaputra Chandra is also a melody of the moonlit night.

This description by Prof. P.C. Jain and Dr. Daljeet. Prof. Jain specializes on the aesthetics of literature and is the author of numerous books on Indian art and culture. Dr. Daljeet is the curator of the Miniature Painting Gallery, National Museum, New Delhi. They have both collaborated together on a number of books.