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Shakuntala Moves Around the Ritual Fire

UnknownMid 19th Century

National Museum - New Delhi

National Museum - New Delhi
New Delhi , India

All adorned and ready to depart from the hermitage for Dushyant’s palace at Hastinapur, Shakuntala is asked to go around the sacrificial fire so that the blessings from the gods protect her from all harm, and her sins are destroyed by the ‘incense from oblations’, the sacred fires purifying Shakuntala. Kalidasa’s text on Shakuntala’s narrative is explicit that the fire is sacrificial with sage Kanva himself incanting mantras while Shakuntala and her companions move around the fire.

In the rendition of the painting, however the fire is set outside the boundary of the little hut, in a little clearing beyond it and Shakuntala is shown moving around the fire her head bowed in reverence, her hands folded, while sage Kanva distractedly looks elsewhere not participating in the ritual sacrifice. Shakuntala’s women companions also do not seem to be interested in the ritual and chatter amongst themselves, or vacantly stare, preoccupied with their thoughts.

The artist therefore fashions the ritual sacrificial fire into a superstitious village ritual that Shakuntala alone participates in before she leaves the hermitage, rather than a yagna which requires strict observation of prescribed ritual, incantation of mantras and participation of others, which accrues good fortune to all the participants.

The backdrop of the visual narrative is a lush verdant foliage both inside the boundary of the hut, shading and sheltering it and outside the bounds of the little cottage where a variegated assemblage of trees adorns the hilly landscape of the wilds. Dainty little birds of varied species sit perched upon the branches of the many trees.

The artist renders the painting in a dense detail of various patterns, intricate linework and shading, making every little area a delight to see. While weaving through this patchwork of colours and patterns, the artist ensures that there are enough broad areas of cool colours that the eye can rest on. The broad areas of the brighter leaves of the banana in lime are balanced by its cooler leaves rendered in soft sage. The shades of sage are repeated in the broad expanse of the grass that covers the mountainous terrain, as well as in a darker shade rendered in the broad leafed tree in the foreground.

The pale hues of the hut and the dull grey-browns of the porch and the barks of some trees also ensure that the bright reds used in the painting do not jar in their intensity.

Details

  • Title: Shakuntala Moves Around the Ritual Fire
  • Creator: Unknown
  • Date Created: Mid 19th Century
  • Physical Dimensions: 33 x 37 cm
  • Style: Nalagarh / Hindur
  • Accession Number: 89.503/3

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