Bharata Meets King Guha Near the Banks of the Ganges

The folio depicts an episode from the epic Ramayana. Rama, the heir apparent of the kingdom of Ayodhya, and the reincarnation of the God Vishnu, proceeds to the forest to honour the unconditional promises granted by his father, King Dashrata to his youngest wife and Rama’s stepmother Kaikeyi. 

Recalling two unconditional promises that the king had made in gratitude for her help in a battlefield, Kaikeyi demands that Rama, her stepson is exiled, and her son Bharata is declared the heir apparent.

Bharata, unaware of the momentous happenings as he was away from Ayodhya, is shocked at his mother’s unfair conduct upon his return. To remedy matters he takes a large army and the entire court, and proceeds to find Rama, to urge him to come back and take his rightful place at the throne. 

As they approach the banks of the river Ganges, the hunter king Guha, a friend and well-wisher of Rama, is alarmed at the huge army that is encamped near the Ganges. Fearing the worst, he believes that a vindictive Bharata has followed Rama to catch him alone and defenceless in the forest, to confront and kill him, and firmly secure his place on the throne.

An apprehensive Guha stationed his army on the other side of the bank of the river Ganges ready for a battle, while himself proceeding to meet Bharata to ascertain his true intentions.

While depicting the event, the artist chooses to present the narrative adopting an oblique view, allowing the viewer to engage with delightful little details that simultaneously unfold.

On the top right, towering forts and ramparts proclaim Guha more as a powerful king of a settled and prosperous kingdom rather than a mere hunter king of a small forest tribe.

Guha’s army, ready for battle, can be seen in small boats cruising up and down the river Ganges.

Guha himself is depicted several times on the left side of the demarcating river, a place where Bharata's entourage is encamped, accompanied by a handful of men..

..as he brings offerings of fruit..

..greeting and bowing before Bharata..

..embracing him and sitting with him under the canopy.

Bharata is depicted with dark blue skin colour, traditionally reserved for the depiction of Rama; he is also depicted several times, as the narrative unfolds.

On the top left, the three queens of the recently-deceased Dashratha, depicted dressed in customary white attire for widows, are seated under a canopy, accompanied by other royal women and maids who stand in attendance.

Outside their tent are colourful anibabaris that the royal women travelled in.

The artist reveals his remarkable skill in depiction of animals, their traits acutely observed from nature. Naturalistically depicted with fluid and sure lines, they present a contrast to the stylisation of the human figures.

Camels and bullocks sit resting after their journey, settled comfortably, their heads turned around in different directions in a manner typical of reposing herd animals.

Their relaxed poses contrast with the strict regimentation and discipline of the strings of horses lined up nearby.

The artist imbues the mythic with a sense of an actual happening, by depicting little vignettes of the real.

The artist imbues the mythic with a sense of an actual happening, by depicting little vignettes of the real.

A huge cauldron cooks the food for the entire encampment, with fire blazing beneath it, on the top.

A huge cauldron cooks the food for the entire encampment, with fire blazing beneath it, on the top.

On the left, a small tent shades a group of musicians engaged in playing naqqaras and naubats.

At the bottom, the troops are depicted in various poses and attitudes, some relaxing or sleeping. Others gather in groups and sit chatting with their arms piled near them.

Others gather in groups and sit chatting with their firearms piled near them.

The composition is carefully balanced with vivid bursts of colour playing against the quiet whites, large blocks and colour fields skillfully countered by fine lines such as that of the tent ropes.

The artist adroitly suggests different textures and surfaces..

..the taut tents that balloon up with slight wind..

..or the torrential gush of the waters..

..or the solid stony ramparts in the distance.