Kanada Ragini (painting, recto), from a Ragamala (Garland of Melodies) Series

Kanada Ragini is sung in the middle of the night, and commonly depicted as a princely warrior who shows his valor vanquishing an elephant. Often, two royal bards are depicted with their arms raised as a salute to this princely warrior. Here, the princely warrior is depicted as Krishna, who is seen in the top register, pulling his uncle, Kamsa by the hair, after having vanquished the elephant who lies in the lower register. Two royal bards are seen saluting Krishna with their arms raised. The artist has blended the Ragamala narrative with an important episode from the life of Krishna: his final encounter with his evil uncle, Kamsa. This painting is a pictorial metaphor for a raga, a musical phrase that is used as the basis for improvisation, possibly belonging to a Ragamala or “Garland of melodies” which was produced at the Mewar court in the late seventeenth century. Other paintings from the same series are 1931.16, 1931.17, 1931.18, and 1931.19. Rajput, Rajasthani, Mewar School.