Many years ago, I had the occasion to discuss with a well-known painter the issue of pictorial representations of raga swarup. I learnt that majority of raga paintings are miniatures. Fortunately we had bought a set of what they call ‘ragamala’ miniature paintings of six ragas. It was noted that ragas like Darbari, which is commonly known to project grandeur, a painting of which covers an old king gradually retiring with slow gait into vanprasthashram. Similarly raga Shree, with a sharp Rishabh conjoined with a ‘Pa’, creates a singular atmosphere. The painting of this raga shows that a young warrior with an open sword, with arm raised, has a vivid red colour in full background of the painting. Frankly, I could not match the picturisation of other ragas in the paintings. Hence it appears that all painters, who have artistically painted the ragamala paintings, have done so according to their own impressions of the atmosphere / mood that a particular raga creates. The painting therefore is purely based on painter’s vision. It is possible that the painter might have consulted some musicians in this regard, but as mentioned earlier, I could not match paintings of other ragas with the painter’s assessment. I think one can take this issue on its face value and leave the ragamala paintings, as a form of art, which need not relate to a common musicality. From the above it could be concluded that there cannot be a common denominator of pictorial impressions of a raga, painted by different artists. Hence, philosophical dictums like, राग के दशŊन करो have spiritual values which enable musicians to venerate raga music with Godly values.
8. Pictures of various ragas have been made by painters in the form of a deity
Pictures of various ragas have been made by painters in the form of a deity, with shloks (verses) describing the picture and the raga e.g. Bhairav as a personality similar to Shiva, Todi as a beautiful lady playing veena surrounded by deer, standing nearby a pond …. lotus etc etc… Is there any connection between these ragas, the shloks and the paintings?