An Illustration to a Baramasa Series: the Month of Ashadha, Rajasthan, Bundi or Uniara, circa 1760s

Carlton Rochell, New York.

The month of Ashadha (August -September) from the twelve month cycle of the Baramasa. Krishna and Radha are depicted seated facing one another sharing a paan, on the upper floor of a small marble pavilion. Outside a nayika walks out alone in the forest on a dark rainy night, as flashes of lightning swirl in the clouds above. Peacocks are attentive and birds fly above. At the upper right two Hara noblemen visit a Shaivite saddhu (holyman) at his hermitage - his arms raised practicing a yoga posture.

Another somewhat earlier illustration from Kotah showing a closely related iconography and composition of the Month of Ashadh, formerly in the Nasli and Alice Heeramaneck Collection, is now in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), accession number M.71.1.26.