“Ghorata ghana chahu ora, ghosha nirghoshini mahdiDhaaraadhara dhara dharani musala dhaaraba jala chandaniJhilli gana jhankaar, pavana jhuki jhuki jhak jhak jhorata, Simha-bagha gunjarata, punja kunjara taru torataNisi dina visesa nihi sesa miti jaata suoli oriaiDesahi piusa paradesa visa, bhadau bhauna na choriai”
“Dark clouds gather all over, with loud thundersRain pours heavily Insects chirp and winds blow intensely Tigers and lions roar and elephants trample on everything There is no difference between day and night Home is sweet and abroad is poison, the month of Bhadon (August and September) is not for traveling”
These lines are from Keshvadas’s lyrical poetry in Kavipriya, where the poet describes the beauty of each of the twelve months. Talking about the months of the monsoon- Saawan and Bhadon (from July to September), Keshvadas and innumerable Indian writers tell us about rivers swelling with water, greenery all around, floods and thunderstorms disrupting the path of travelers, and amidst all this, romance or Prema blooming in young hearts, who do not fear even the fiercest rainstorm when it comes to rushing and meeting their beloved!
The beauty of the earth bathed certainly caught the attention of the early Indian artists and writers. From the poetry that inspired Saawan’s depiction in Baramasa paintings to the art of Ragamala where the rainy-season melody of Raga Megha is beautifully painted, from the rain-drenched lanes of Vrindavan where Radha-Krishna perform their Lilas to the fearlessness of Abhisarika Nayika, young heroine who walks through the dark forest during a rain storm in night, every corner of Indian art world is enriched with refreshing touch of rain. So pick up your cup of tea and coffee and come with us on an exploration of rain in Indian paintings.
Saawan in Baramasa Painting (Source:Pinterest)
A visualization of the twelve months or Baramasa, these paintings are a gem in the treasures of Indian art. The common theme for every month is the same- the heroine persuading the hero not to leave her alone and using the season and weather as the logic behind her wishes. For the month of Saawan, the rainy season, the Nayika tells the Nayaka-
"The rivers look so exquisite, as they rush to meet the ocean
The vines mesmerize the eye wrapped around young trees beautifully
The lightning flashes rivetingly as she plays with rolling clouds.
With their strong cries, the peacocks announce the meeting of earth and heaven.
All lovers unite in this month of Shravana, why leave me then, my love?"
Krishna as Raga Megha (Source: Pinterest)
In the Ragamala series- paintings devoted to the Raga or musical melodies, the rainy season accompanies the figure of Raga Megha.
Megha means “cloud”, and the Raga is presented as a young man (sometimes as Krishna), blowing a conch or dancing, surrounded by women, as dark, nimbus clouds with thunder approach the scene.
One of the six principal Ragas in classical Indian music, Raga Megha embodies the joy, youth, and richness of the rainy season.
Radha-Krishna Together in the Rain, Jaipur School (Source: Pinterest)
Devotee-poets and writers penning songs and poetry for the lotus feet of Krishna often compare their yearning to reach Krishna with the intensity of a lover.
In the persona of Sri Radha, devotees express their love for Krishna, giving rise to a particular genre of poetry and art where rain becomes an integral part, a moving backdrop of the romantic meetings of Radha-Krishna.
Rajput miniatures, especially Basohli and Kangra school of paintings depict Radha and Krishna in the heart of the forest, rushing under one blanket or umbrella to protect themselves from the sudden torrential rains.
Surrounded by the peak of nature’s beauty during monsoon, Radha-Krishna in these paintings represents delicate emotions of love, passion, and the bliss of being with the beloved.
Krishna Lifting Govardhana, Jaipur School (Source: National Museum, India, Google Arts and Culture)
The story of Krishna lifting the Govardhana Parvat on his index finger, to protect the people of Brija from the wrath of Indra, is a popular episode.
Krishna became the guardian of the people, when thunderous rains, weaponized by Indra to “teach the people a lesson” for not worshipping him fell from the skies.
Rajput miniatures are replete with the divine depiction of this story, where the blue-skinned Krishna stands in the center, surrounded by his people, as the dark clouds gather in the sky and rain rapidly on the land.
A symbol of Krishna’s divinity and devotion to the residents of Brija, paintings of the episode of lifting the Govardhana are one of the most popular traditional representations of rain in Indian art.
Abhisarika Nayika, Mola-Ram’s Style, Kangra School (Source: Pinterest)
The painting here is a popular depiction of Abhisarika Nayika, one of the heroines mentioned in the ancient text of “Natyashastra” by Bharat Muni. Abhisarika is a woman deeply in love, so much so that the dark of night and the blasting sounds of thunder and rain can not stop her from meeting her lover.
Also known as “Tamobhisarika” (the heroine who moves during the darkness of the night), Nayika says to her friend or Sakhi- “This rainy season laden with new clouds (full of water) is a blessing. O Sakhi!
My heart is under the control of another and desires to do something”, and goes out, with such determination and love that the dark clouds and night become her guardians, protecting her from the eyes of the world, and the creatures of the night- snakes, ghouls, ghosts and wild animals become her friends, taking her to her destination, the arms of her beloved.
Meghdoot Painting | Acrylic on Canvas | Kanak Wagh
Poems, songs, and couplets on rain and romance are a staple for the modern lover of culture. As the sky starts darkening, we reach out to our favorite songs whose lyrics are filled with mentions of lovers pining for one another, daydreaming about the beloved, and romancing the lover in the rain.
However, for the Indian creatives, rain and romance is a duo that is not modern. It is a bond that is natural, and thus ancient. In the great poetry of Kalidasa, “Meghdoota” or “The Cloud Messenger”, the story begins with Yaksha, the hero of the story, thinking about his wife.
Remembering the virtuous and beautiful beloved, the Yaksha thinks of sending a heartfelt message to her, because “the month of Shravana (monsoon season) is at hand”.
As a counterpart to the Nayika of Baramasa, who wants her lover to be with her during the rainy season, the Yaksha’s mind naturally goes to her loved one, because monsoon is meant to be the season of love!
Want to know more about the stories of rain in Indian literature? Or do you want to get an eternal window into the beauty of the rainy season through Indian paintings?
Visit Exotic India Art today and explore a range of ancient, historical literature, drama, and poetry in Sanskrit, Hindi, English, and regional languages as well as a handpicked treasure of Baramasa, Ragmala, Rajput miniature, and modern art collections, and experience the charm of rain from the eyes of Indian artists and poets.
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