Cowherd Krishna and surprised Radha

The poet Keshvadasa of Orchha, the capital seat of Bundelas in central India, composed his famous poetry Rasikapriya in 1592 AD. This picture of Bundi style is based on the love sports of Radha and Krishna. The poet describes in Rasikapriya- love, separation, union and emotions of Radha and Krishna. Here the heroine is Radha – the soul and the hero is Krishna – the lord himself.

Illustrates here a verse from the poetry of Rasikapriya depicts Radha asking her sakhi how Nanda and Yasodha could be so unkind as to send Krishna to forest with cows with other gopalas, who is as lustrous as the sun, as delicate as moon, kind hearted like Shiva, strong like Indra, and valorous like Rama, handsome like Kamadeva the god of love. Krishna is also calm like a sea and wise and clever like Ganapati.

The artist tried to fill the space by creating small figures of gods between the two beautifully decorated palatial houses of Nanda-Yashoda and Radha. Rama is shown on Pushpak Viman, while he was returning from Lanka after defeating Ravana and Indra is on his white elephant Airavata. Ganesha is shown seated before Shiva and Parvati under a tree and Nandi is also shown in front of them. Kamadeva- the god of love is shown with bow and arrow of flowers and the sun and moon are shinning in the sky.

The beautiful architecture of the house and its decorative interior is rendered colourfully. The bejeweled Radha is shown standing on the door with her friend and looking at Krishna who is in colourful red and golden jama costume.