Ragani Khambhavati

Ragani Khambhavati

Bundi School.
Painting by Shaikhs Hasain, Ali and Hatim. 1591.

       Bundi school School has its roots in the Mewar School of miniatures. But soon it devrloped its own vocabulary,  its own color scheme and its own sophistication.  It went through different phases which are yet to be fully analysed and understood. It is a fascinating School of miniature paintings, but hardly explored by art hiatorians.
       In this painting we can see the affinity with the Mewar miniatures.  The setting, the figure of the woman remains the same. But now there is more detailing of the building,  more designs in the setting.  Rather than the simple primary colors of Mewar, the Bundi palette is more subtle,  more sophisticated: there are pinks, mauves, oranges and blues and greens. The artists have beautifully contrasted areas of complex designs with the plain areas of the white wall. The central characters are in the plain areas.
        The painting belongs to a Ragamala series. The woman is shown performing a yagna (worshiping through fire) for Lord Brahma. Being a God, Lord Brahma is shown as larger than the woman. The woman personifies the Ragani. Although Lord Brahma wears a 'dhoti', his crown is borrowed from the helmet worn by the Muslim soldiers.  One can discern the influence of Akbar's court on the Bundi court. The foundation of Ganga Yammuna 'tehzeeb' is being laid in the 16th century; a foundation we have inherited and must build upon for our future generations