Daughter of a great sage and a celestial maiden, Shakuntala in Indian tradition is the perfection of beauty and wisdom, compassion and steadfastness. Popularized world over in the poetic drama, “Abhigyanshakuntalam” of Kalidasa and oil paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Shakuntala’s matchless persona was born much before, in the pages of Mahabharata, where her heavenly character is described in mesmerizing words. Inspired by a long tradition of tales and conceptions of Shakuntala, Dhiraj Khandelwal in this oil on canvas has breathed life into his visions of a legendary woman.
The version of Shakuntala in Mahabharata mentions the powerful femininity of the child of Vishwamitra and Menaka. She is resplendent with physical allure as well as a heart that is full of affection for all life forms. Her strolls in the woods around the hermitage where she lived included her interactions with flora and fauna around her, which bloomed and beamed at the sound of her feet. Her meeting with Dushyanta, a mighty king, and her future husband also occurred when Shakuntala was tending to a deer who was hit by the arrow of the ruler on a royal hunt. Dushyanta followed the deer marked by his arrow into the wilderness, where he encountered Shakuntala, who hypnotized him with the gentleness of her heart and elegance of her gait. Captivated by each other, the young duo united in Gandharva Vivaha- a form of marriage where the man and woman copulate out of love, and was considered a legitimate union for a Kshatriya (warrior) during ancient India. Out of this fated union was born a son, named Bharata, whose bravery and exploits left everlasting imprints on the story of Bharatavarsha.
In this oil on canvas, Shakuntala is seen seated comfortably in the heart of a forest, amidst bustling branches all around her that recreate the mystic of the night sky against which she glows like the full moon. Shakuntala’s posture is comfortable, highlighting her immaculate exquisiteness. Her face carries a childlike quality which is supported by her physicality which is that of an adolescent girl. Wearing a gemmed nose ornament and a bold maroon bindi (forehead dot), Shakuntala seems to be halted in this painting while she was braiding herself some floral ornamentations. In her right hand placed over her head, the heavenly beauty holds a string of white flowers, with a floral bracelet in her left hand and another floral garland is placed on her waist gracefully. She is dressed in a breast cloth and dhoti in the rose gold shade and is embellished by a necklace and a long pendant that freely falls on her torso. She balances herself against a rock wrapped with deer skin, next to which a vessel with exotic floral patterns is placed. Beneath her, luxurious green grass and faint yellow-colored wildflowers bloom forming a carpet for the leisurely moments of beauty. Bringing a distinct sprinkle of colors to this oil painting is a basket carefully kept near Shakuntala’s leg, in which magenta, pink and white flowers, daintily picked by her, are to be seen.
Shakuntala in this oil on canvas appears marvelously at ease in the dark depths of a forest, suggesting that for her it is the natural habitat. The topmost left corner of the canvas carries tinges of yellow and orange, marking the spot in the forest from where sunlight is seeping into Shakuntala’s haven, illuminating her glorious form for the audience.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist