Vishwamitra - the Hermit

Maneka descended from heaven with a purpose, the purpose being to distract the hermit Vishwamitra from his meditation. He was meditating will so much zeal and concentration that Indra, the god of heavens felt threatened. Thus he sent the most beautiful dancer of paradise down to earth to entangle the saint in the web of her beauty, so that he forget all about religion, spirituality and god.

After a hard try, she seems to have accomplished the mission. Although still dressed as a hermit, his kamandal and the rosary lay astray as he holds the delicate hand of Maneka, who has assumed a mortal form. She has here with all her seductive appeal, an exotic vision of beauty. Her curvaceous body is covered by a diaphanous lover garment and a similar scarf covers her upper body. She wears a tiara and other pieces of jewellery which shall probably occupy the place next to her anklets lying in the foreground.

She has closed her eyes as a smile plays on her lips - a smile of victory. Contrary to the delicate beauty of Maneka is the sturdy, muscular body of sage Vishwamitra. He has long hair, most of it twisted in a knot at the top of his head. His beard and moustache cover most of his face. He holds her hand delicately as if he is handling a fragile piece and looks at it with awe. Rudraksha beads form his accessories.

The background seems as volatile as the central theme. The dark, cloudy sky, the tumultuous flow of the river, the swaying of trees in the blowing wind is all reflective of the innermost thoughts of the protagonists of this painting.

This description by Kiranjyot