Ragamala Paintings

Here the synthesis of these three arts is at its best! In brief, in Ragamala Paintings the depiction of a raga is created in the form of paintings. So, to understand Ragamala Paintings it is very necessary to know what a raga is.

Ragas: ragas are the very foundation of Indian classical music. It is a combination of frequencies and notes that form melodic movements. It is considered that these melodies can produce a pleasant mood, sensation or emotion in the listener. There are principally six ragas: Dipika, Bhairavi, Megha, Sri, Hindola, and Malkaunsa. These six ragas are meant to be sung during the six seasons of the year: summer, monsoon, early winter, winter, spring and autumn. Apart from the six seasons, the ragas also have a particular time of the day during which it should be sung. The parts of the day are: dawn, morning, afternoon, evening, night, and midnight.

During the late medieval period, many of the Indian musicologists personified these ragas into verse. These poetries were often amorous, describing the love affair of a man and his beloved. These verses became the very sources of Ragamala Paintings. Under the patronage of aristocracy, the artists of Ragamala Paintings explored in great depth the very relationship that governs both sentiment and sound. Thus they translated their understanding into colors and forms leading to the formation of Ragamala Paintings .

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